…for I have come to call not those who think they are righteous but those who know they are sinners. Matthew 9:13 [NLT]

I was reading this morning about Jesus eating with many disreputable sinners and how that bothered the religious people of his day. If you read about Jesus in the bible you constantly find him associating and traveling with disreputable sinners. Why did this bother the religious people? Some people have tried so hard to earn a place at the table with Jesus. Somehow in there attempt to live a perfect life they have elevated themselves above their neighbors and friends. Thinking all their hard work has earned them more of the love of God. At the same time these same people try to make others, who don’t live just like them, feel like they are unworthy of God’s love.

I find it very refreshing to see Jesus hanging out with disreputable sinners. None of us are perfect. Jesus is clear to state here that he did not come for those who think they are perfect and righteous already but for those who know they are sinners. Knowing that you are not perfect is not something that you have to hide. Actually it is something to be proud of. It is a healthy realization. If you think everything is perfect you won’t need any help. I know I need God’s help each day. I find comfort in knowing that he loves me just the way I am.

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 18th, 2009 at 9:25 am and is filed under Grace. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.