#DailyDevotion Jesus Welcomed Sinners & He Called Them To Repentance & Faith
Luke 15:1-10 All the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear Him. 2But the Pharisees and the Bible scholars grumbled and said, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
People often get the strange idea that Jesus didn’t call sinners to repentance. They think Jesus never said, these things you are doing are against God’s will, stop. But that is not the case. Just as his forerunner, the Baptist, Jesus also preached, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.” We see here that all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear him. Of course we know, the Holy Spirit was moving them to hear and to listen to Jesus. They may have been intrigued also by Jesus’ message to the Pharisees, Scribes and Priests to repent also of their lack of mercy and love.
We see here the Pharisees and Scribes grumbling, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Perhaps this has a lot to do with it. These guys didn’t have anything to do with the tax collectors and sinners. If they ever did have anything to do with them, it was nothing but judgment. There wasn’t a call to repent with a promise of forgiveness. Jesus certainly told people what their sins were and called them to repent. He also promise forgiveness and a new life in baptism. Jesus sat with the sinners and taught them, something the Pharisees were unwilling to do.
So what are we like in our lives? When we call people to repent of their sins, do we also offer the grace of God in Christ Jesus? Do we let them know God and Jesus will accept them and teach them his ways? Do we have discussions with them and are willing to teach them what God wants for them in their lives and what Jesus Christ has done for them? Do we proclaim the love of God in Christ Jesus to sinners?
There is no doubt we speak the law to those who are lawbreakers, sinners. We also offer the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. We don’t shun these people who do not know Jesus and God’s love. We welcome them so we may share God’s love for them in the hopes they will hear, turn away from their sins and turn to God’s great mercy in Christ Jesus. Of course, a lot of people will not accept this. Their hearts are hardened. They will reject you and reject Christ. The cannot and will not see what they are doing is sinful and will want to continue in it. But we need not close the door on them. If we treated them with love, respect and dignity which is called for by them bearing the image and likeness of God and that Christ died for such as these, there may come a time when their sins catch up with them and they will want a way out. Then they may remember what you said to them and how you received them and they may return to you to hear about this forgiveness and life we have in Jesus Christ.
Merciful God and Father, grant us your Holy Spirit that we may accept sinners and eat with them so we may have the opportunity to speak to them about repentance and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. When we do speak the gospel, open their hearts so they may receive it and be one with us in our faith in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.