(Matthew 9:10-13)
10 Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and began dining with Jesus and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”TODAY'S TAKEAWAY
In society today, there is rhetoric being thrown around about being compassionate, tolerant, accepting, affirming and approving. Let us not be deceived. These words are often used to manipulate us in some way, to make us feel guilty and/or prideful and selfish. Therefore, when we hear something, we need to look at facts and compare these against God's truth.
Yes, we are to have compassion, but this should not enable or encourage people to commit crimes against others, otherwise, we are only showing compassion on criminals and not on the victims. Yes, we should be tolerant in allowing people to express their ideas and beliefs, but if and when they contradict with God's will and His word, we should not buy into wrong thinking. And yes, we should be accepting - as in loving everyone!!! But we are not affirm or approve of wrong behavior! To say that something is right and good, when it is actually harmful and wrong, is not love!
As it should be, the people in the passage above were criminals and sinners who felt remorse for their crimes and sin! And as it should be, they went to the Lord who is the only one who can forgive sin.
God is only "tolerant" in the fact that He has created everyone with a free will, and therefore does not force anyone to love Him back or be obedient to His will. He patiently gives everyone fair opportunity to realize their sinful nature and their need for Him to be in their lives, as their heavenly Father, as their close Friend and Confidant, as their Mentor and Teacher, as their Lord and Savior!
And the Lord God is the only one who truly is accepting. Being holy, He cannot have a relationship with sin. This is why we need His forgiveness. Because He loves us, He desires to have a close relationship with EVERYONE. This is why He came in flesh to pay the price for sin and death. THEREFORE, He wants us to go to Him - AS WE ARE - but with a humble heart, and in His salvation, He changes us from the inside out.
We have to realize that we are sick, in need of a physician! A person cannot be religious and attempt to work or earn their way to heaven. Self-righteousness is actually a sin. It's funny how people over evaluate their efforts. But if we compare our goodness to the goodness of God, our good deeds are but filthy rags! When we compare our love to the love of God, we will realize how self-centered and selfish we really are!
No good deed is good enough to work our way into heaven! No sin is too great for God to forgive. When we humbly repent and ask the Lord to come into our hearts, the Lord forgives us, covers us with His righteousness, and gives us His indwelling Holy Spirit, so that we can continue on in close communion with Him. And one day, the Lord will judge and reward all believers according to the good deeds done with His love and righteousness!
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