Present With
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. 10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.13 Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."
(Matthew 9:9-13)
Matthew was a tax collector, and many tax collectors demanded more than what was owed and kept it for themselves, but we are not told that Matthew was unscrupulous. Jesus called Matthew to become a disciple without demanding, requiring, or even asking that he change his ways. It was Matthew who determined that following Jesus was more compelling than the life he was living. And Matthew, though he let go of who he had been, did not let go of the people he had relationship with. Instead, Matthew invited those he knew to meet Jesus for themselves. When Jesus was confronted and forced to explain why he was socializing with those of ill-repute, he explained that they were the very ones he came to save.
How many people in the hospital are in tip top shape? Even the medical staff must visit a doctor from time to time if they expect to be well enough to help others. Yet we lament that there are so many sinners in church - some even say that's why they don't attend. Where else should the sinners be if not in the place where they can find healing for their souls. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and we are all lost in some aspect of our lives. If we know that we need Jesus, then we must expect that even those (or especially those) who's sin causes us harm would also seek the saving, healing, power of Jesus. We should, in fact, rejoice that the church is full of sinners because that means we're all exactly where we need to be!
Jesus was secure enough in himself and his God that he could hang out with - be present with - sinners without fear of what others would say, or worry that he would be drawn into their sin. Prayerfully, with the humility of knowing how lost we've been (and sometimes still are), and with gratitude for all God has done and is doing in us, may we shine God's light of love in every gathering and every situation, trusting God to use our witness to
save others from their own lostness.
7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God. 8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me. 9 I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds. 10 For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine. 12 "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine. 13 Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." (Psalm 50:7-15)
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