SEEKING THE LOST

MUSINGS - September 23 2018

SEEKING THE LOST

Mark 2:13-17
"Jesus went to the seashore again. Large crowds came to him, and he taught them. When Jesus was leaving, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting in a tax office. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" So Levi got up and followed him. Later Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house. Many tax collectors and sinners who were followers of Jesus were eating with him and his disciples. When the scribes who were Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard that, he said to them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval."

Jesus has just called another disciple. Levi (also known as Matthew) became part of the twelve special followers of this amazing man-god. And to celebrate all of the disciples along with Levi's coworkers gathered at Levi's home for a meal.

This, if course, like many of the things that Jesus did, offended the religious and social leaders. He's eating with SINNERS. Shocking! Now, before you get on you high horse thinking that you're not as judgemental as those hypocrites, what would your reaction be if your preacher, priest, or pastor went to the biker bar or strip club to spend time with the people there? Would you be supportive it look down your nose at him?

Things haven't change all that much in the last two thousand years. The goody-goodys who fill the pews today aren't that different from the goody-goodys of days gone by. Gossips still gossip and finger pointers still point fingers. And Jesus still says, "I've come to call sinners, not people who THINK they have God's approval."

Remember, if you are seeking the lost, you have to go where the lost are.

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