Tag: Sinners

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When we invite Jesus.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”” Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Everyone has figured out that a Jewish accountant, working for the Roman empire is not an honorable, tasteful employment for a nice Jewish young man. However, it still happened. Some hated it, some understood its necessity. No matter what people felt about it, Jewish tax collectors needed God’s grace and mercy just like anyone else. Was it shocking that Jesus invited a tax collector (at the tax collector’s booth) to follow him, making himself a target for criticism with the religious leaders? Sure, but Jesus didn’t mind rubbing the religious the wrong way and seemed to handle negative publicity just fine.

Something extraordinary happened after the tax booth encounter. Matthew invited Jesus, the other disciples AND his friends to a meal! Jesus chose to recline at the table with Matthew and his friends. Matthew records his own admission about these “friends” of his. He calls them the (hamartólos) – deplorable sinners! Jesus was not shocked about being invited, nor was he surprised by who showed up. This is how life works, we share what we care about, it’s also how good news travels. When something significant, something spectacular happens in our life, we look for friends to share it with. We LOVE sharing hacks, tips, wins and life changing announcements with friends. Matthew was genuinely excited about deciding to follow Jesus, and wanted his work buddies to know about it. And, Matthew wanted those friends to meet Jesus.

The most effective moments in a new believer’s life is the first few years after coming to Christ. Every family member, every close friend, every co-worker has a front seat opportunity to watch the effects of Jesus in our lives. I don’t know what the stats are, but as believers go forward in their walk, they tend to have less connections with non-believers. That makes sense, right? Our ways change and it follows that our relationships change as well. My friend group in High School told me they preferred I not “hang out” with them at lunch anymore. They immediately saw the shift in my behavior after committing my life to Christ. I wasn’t hurt by that reality, I understood why – they thought I was going to get preachy with them. I don’t think I instantly began acting religious, but if they could see the changes Jesus made in my life in just a couple of days, I understood that they weren’t ready for how I might behave in the future. I spent the rest of my Junior year eating lunch alone. I later found out that one of my best friends (non schoolmate) did miraculously experience Jesus while on the way to a planned party weekend in the mountains.

The point is whether we’re surrounded by fellow tax collectors or just normal “sinners” like us, people tend to watch our lives and notice what’s going on.

Prayer

​Dad,
I often think of the immediate changes I saw in my life when I first surrendered my life to you. I didn’t realize then how many of those changes were apparent to folks close to me. If I understand this idea of constant and transparent change happening in my life, I also need to remember how many people see that change. Hopefully it’s especially seen when I am invitational in my own walk and talk. I saw two folks baptized yesterday and they invited friends to come and see their public declaration. I heard that those closest to them have already seen the changes you have made in their life. Your grace is so beautiful to see working in others! Thank You.

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Freedom to serve.

Reading Time: 3 minutes 
“Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:19-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul writes this phrase, “I am a free man.” It doesn’t seem like much to a western-world, U.S. Citizen, because we’ve been “free” for hundreds of years.

In Paul’s day, many people were not free. Slavery, servanthood, was common. He lists the the classes of people of his culture at that time, the Jews and the Greeks (gentiles). And, he writes about how one group had been raised on the Torah, the Laws of God, the other had no real moral or religious code. The gentiles were anyone not Jewish, so it was not exactly a racial issue.

Paul says some interesting things about these laws of God. He was raised and trained in strict Judaism. He held title and authority as a Pharisee. So he writes, “I am not subject to the law,” then later writes, “I obey the law of Christ.” We can’t fathom the massive shift in belief and behavior that this phrase means.

Most of us have only and always been free from the “Law of God,” meaning the 10 commandments and the five books that make up the Pentateuch. And yet, though we are free from that “master,” Paul wants us to understand that all humankind is under another master, another law – the lawlessness of sin.

So when Paul writes of being under Christ’s law he has transferred his servanthood, not just from the Old Testament Torah, but also his slavery from sin itself.

Lastly he adds another object lesson, or a picture to illustrate the true nature of being under the mastery of sin, he writes about the weak. “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” Paul list “those without strength.” Paul’s desire was to win over the Jews, which he did with limited results, the Gentiles, which Paul had huge success setting up dozens of churches in multiple Gentile cities. And he also reached the poor, the weak, the disenfranchised.

Paul found “common ground,” for him to present the gospel all may be free, from the Torah (Law), free from the chains of sin and become a servant, a bond slave to Jesus Christ and truly be free! Our biggest issue today is finding the common ground of those who are still in slavery to an ideology, a social virus, or cultural religion that masks the truth and gives aires of superiority. We cannot, we must not walk with hubris religiosity, political morality or calloused judgment to reach this generation. He have to walk in the humility of love and grace to do everything we can to save them!

Prayer

Dad,
I just love your whole plan on calling and transforming the Apostle Paul – great move! This guy ends up writing the majority of practics in our understanding of the New Covenant (Testament) and how it interweaves with the gospel. As a Gentile myself, I love the simplicity of obedience to the law of Christ – love others just like You loved me! May we find the common ground that Paul writes about in our current culture that lives in the most upside down thinking ever! And may we be exactly like the father who runs and welcomes prodigals coming home!!!