“I Have Not Come To Call The Righteous, But Sinners To Repentance”

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:27-32

Have you ever been in a situation when people showed up for help, but you were not sure whether they were there for help, or to rob you? Have you ever then found out they were there for genuine help from you?

Do you have a mental list of those who you consider to be acceptable? Jesus was often criticized by the religious authorities for the company He kept. But He welcomed those everyone else avoided, because He knew they needed Him most.

A heart that is open to Christ will be open to those He loves.

Our Daily Bread – October 13, 2016