How often, Father, do Your angels watch over and protect me? Just this morning, as I tried to make sure I was as far to left as I could be while passing a car, I felt as if I’d gone just a little too far but even as that thought entered my mind, I could feel that the bus hadn’t gone too far. Your hand was surely with us! Thank You, Father!

Mark 2:13-17 (<<click to read the passage)

When Jesus added Levi (also known as Matthew) to his band of disciples, Matthew had a big shindig with Jesus, His disciples “along with may tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.” (I absolutely love that!)

And when the “teachers of religious law who were Pharisees” saw what was going on they wanted to know why He was eating with such “scum” as the New Living Translation puts it. Levi and his fellow ilk were despised – the lowest of the low.

Jesus’ comeback illuminates exactly who He is – casting an unmistakable spotlight on that unmissable attribute of God. We are loved! We don’t have to fix ourselves but we do have to come clean. We have to be honest about who we are and to be willing to humbly fall upon His mercy.

Here’s what He told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Let’s break that down a bit – “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

The Pharisees thought they were all that – masters of the holier than thou mindset. But that mentality only blinded them to the truth. They couldn’t see Jesus for who He truly was because they were so wrapped up in themselves.

“Sinners” on the other hand were open to the truth. They held no delusions as to who they were – they knew they were “scum” if you will. But Jesus opened their eyes to that fact that they were definitely more than useless!

Lord Jesus, may I always be about Your business – in all the ebbs and flows of life. Each day my path may cross with someone who needs to know about You. May I seek to make the greatest investment in those who will be most receptive to Your truth. Amen.

Feb 4th, 2019, Mon, 12:12 pm