Tag: sinners
Understanding Jesus’ Purpose
Scripture reading for January 4th: Genesis 3-5, Mark 2
Mark 2:14-17 “And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as He reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
When Jesus called Levi, (Matthew) the tax collector, He caught the attention of the religious establishment. Jewish tax collectors were the lowest of the low in their eyes and the worst of sinners because they made their living collecting money from their own people. But Jesus saw not a sinner, but a valuable team member who would follow Him and find new purpose and provision. When the scribes of the Pharisees asked why Jesus would eat with the tax collectors and known ‘sinners’, Jesus spoke up directly and set them straight. God’s purpose was to heal the hurting, the broken and known sinners. His purpose was to call “sinners” out of their sinful lifestyle and lost state and invite them into His kingdom. Jesus would teach them who they were and help them find noble purpose and the abundant life. As Levi accepted the invitation, he invited his friends to come and dine, already beginning to find new purpose and joy in fishing for men!
Prayer: Father God, thank You for inviting me, a sinner, to join You in Your purpose of seeking and saving the lost. You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ to seek out sinners and clothe them with Christ’s righteousness. Forgive me for hiding from Your purposes and failing to see sinners through Your eyes. Fill me with a renewed understanding of Your purpose in each moment of today. Help me to be present in Your Presence to truly help those still hiding from You.
Genesis 3:7-9 “Then the eyes of both (Adam and Eve) were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?””
The Father’s compassion!
Scripture reading for March 23rd: Luke 15
Key Scriptures: Luke 15:18-24 “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
Jesus gave a series of parables about lost things. There was the lost sheep, one out of a hundred. There was the lost coin, one out of ten silver coins. In each of these parables, there was great rejoicing as the lost was found. Jesus said these represented the joy in heaven over a sinner who repents. And then there was the story of the lost son, one of two, who chose to take his inheritance from his father and wasted it in the far country. This son was reduced to feeding pigs and at that point came to himself. He decided to go home and beg his father for mercy. The father was watching, and saw the returning son. He ran to greet him, hugging and kissing him. When the son confessed and asked for a slaves job, the father restored him to sonship and threw a party! Lessons on our Father’s heart abound in this amazing story!
Luke 15:7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing our Father’s great compassion and heart to restore what as sinners we foolishly wasted. May the joy of heaven be increased through my life and sharing of this Good News!
Psalm 86:15 “But You, O Lord are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
Calling all sinners!
Scripture reading for March 9th: Luke 5
Key Scriptures: Luke 5:27-31 “After this He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed Him. And Levi made Him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””
Jesus prayerfully and carefully selected those He wanted to follow Him as disciples and whom He would appoint as apostles. His selections were not popular with the local religious folks. They particularly held their nose up at the call of Levi, a tax collector and the dinner party Jesus attended at his house afterwards. They asked His disciples why they were eating with the “deplorable” sinners like these tax collectors were judged by them to be. Jesus answered them Himself. He came to call sinners to repentance. Only those who are sick will admit their need of a “Physician”.
Psalm 14:2-3 “The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for healing my sinful heart and inviting me to Your table for fellowship. Give me grace to call others in need of healing from the devastation caused by sin into fellowship with You.
Psalm 51:10, 12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. . . .Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Physician to the sinner!
Scripture reading for January 19th: Mark 2
Key Scriptures: Mark 2:14-17 “And as He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow Me.” And he rose and followed Him. And as He reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
Jesus knew all men and saw potential that the world and religious community missed. As He passed by the tax station of Levi (Matthew), Jesus called out to him to follow as a disciple. Levi was quick to obey and invited Jesus to a party as his house with other tax collectors. These tax collectors were considered the “unredeemable” of Jesus time in the Jewish culture and Jesus was questioned about why He would stoop to eat with them. Jesus explained that He came for those who were sick with sin and would recognize their need of healing and forgiveness. Those who judged themselves to be righteous would miss His call and judged those who did respond.
Psalm 32:5 “I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” Selah
Faith confession and prayer: Thank You for calling me. Lord, keep me from self-righteousness. I confess my need for Your forgiveness and healing as a sinner. Use me to bring others to You who need healing from their brokenness.
Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; . . .”
Heirs of Eternal Life!
Scripture reading for July 13th: 1st Kings 15, 2nd Chronicles 13-14, Titus 3
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:3-7 “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
We all have a tainted history–sinners enslaved by our flesh and involved in acts of sin and rebellion against God. Jesus Christ was presented to us through the preaching of the Gospel and by grace we were able to see His goodness and kindness and respond through repentance and faith. This was all an act of mercy on Christ’s behalf, justifying us who were guilty and making us heirs with Him of eternal life! Amazing grace brought saving faith.
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace, goodness and kindness towards me, a rebellious sinner. I invite the Holy Spirit to continue Your regeneration of my heart, preparing me for eternal life. Jesus is Lord!
2nd Chronicles 13:12 “Behold, God is with us at our head, and His priests with their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you, O sons of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of you fathers, for you cannot succeed.”
All Glory to the King of the Ages!
Scripture reading for June 25th: 1st Kings 6, 2nd Chronicles 3, 1st Timothy 1
Key Scriptures: 1st Timothy 1:15-17 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!”
Paul, the most experienced of sinners, knew one glorious truth about Jesus Christ: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. .” Paul had persecuted believers and had them arrested and even put some to death, thinking he was doing God a favor. Paul explained that God had shown him mercy because he had acted in ignorance and unbelief. God also was using him as an example of His perfect mercy and patience that others might have hope. You might say that Paul’s extremely sinful past example and his new changed life gave a picture of God’s rich mercy! God was building His Church (House) by transforming sinners! All glory to the eternal King of the ages!
1st Kings 6:7 “When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.”
Vs. 19 “The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me, a sinner, and using Your Word and Spirit to prepare me as Your sanctuary. Help me to be an example of Your perfect mercy!
“Where are you?”
Scripture reading: Genesis 3-5, Mark 2
Key Scriptures: Genesis 3:7-9 “Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”
When the first man and woman sinned by disobeying God’s word, God took the initiative and went looking for them in the garden. He called out to them, not because He didn’t know where they were or why they were hiding. He exchanged their fig leaves for bloody skins. Similarly, Jesus Christ sought out lost children of God and called them to Himself, that they might be with Him and learn God’s heart for those caught in Satan’s snare! Through Jesus’ blood covering, all who responded would be healed from sin’s grip.
Mark 2:16-17 “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to the disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord, Here I am! I have strayed from You but through the call of Jesus Christ, I am now following the path of a disciple and learning Your ways. Send me out today in the power of Your Spirit to preach the Good News and call the lost home to You.
A demonstration of God’s Love
Scripture reading for June 19th: Romans 5, Psalm 122, Proverbs 29
Key Scriptures: Romans 5:6-10 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person–though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die–but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. For if while were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.”
Paul clearly stated that we are all sinners, for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. In that state of sin and separation from God, when we were actually under God’s wrath against sin, Christ came at just the right time and died for all sinners. He did this to demonstrate God’s love to all sinners and provide a way for their salvation from God’s wrath. Christ’s death and shed blood bring justification and reconciliation. His resurrected life guarantees our salvation!
Faith confession: I receive justification, reconciliation and eternal security in the City of God through faith in Jesus Christ’s death and shed blood. I thank Him for resurrection life that His resurrection from the dead guarantees for me and all who repent and believe.
Psalm 122:6-7 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!”
A sinner healed!
Scripture reading for February 11th: Mark 2, Psalm 30, Proverbs 30
Key Scriptures: Mark 2:15-17 “And as he (Luke) reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
Jesus called Levi, also known as Matthew, to follow Him and become a disciple. Levi responded quickly and hosted Jesus at his home, inviting many other friends to meet Jesus. This angered the religious folks, who had judged those attending as “sinners.” Jesus gently set them straight by explaining His mission; He was here to call sinners to repentance. This required humility to recognize that everyone is a sinner in need of the Great Physician.
Faith’s confession: I am thankful that Jesus came to save me, a sinner, in need of healing. I am blessed to join other “sinners” at the table with Jesus Christ, my Lord, Who has restored my life and healed me.
Psalm 30:2-3 “O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me. O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.”
Calling of sinners!
Scripture reading for February 9th: Leviticus 12-15, Mark 2
Key Scriptures: Mark 2:15-17 “And as He reclined at table in His house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus chose to invite sinners to have fellowship with Him. He ate with them and even invited Matthew, a despised tax collector, to follow Him. The religious leaders questioned how Jesus could be willing to be with ‘sinners and tax collectors’ and Jesus spoke plainly to them. He had come to minister to those who were in need of healing, not those who did not need it. God taught His people in the Old Testament to minister to the unclean, lepers, and bring restoration.
Leviticus 14:1-3 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This is the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of the leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds. . . “
Prayer: Holy Father, thank You for caring for the sinner and the hurting. May your compassion fill my heart today to bring healing, encouragement and hope. Amen.