While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:15-17
Jesus hung out with people who needed help. Prostitutes, criminals, despised tax collectors, untouchables, and those whom our culture would call "losers", "low-life's ", maybe worse.
The culture saw failure and brokenness, but Jesus saw potential.
He looks past what current circumstances appear to be.
He knows the heart of every person;
where there is brokenness He sees restoration and repair;
where there is sickness He sees healing,
instead of darkness, light;
from death and destruction He calls forth life.
Out of the ashes He brings beauty, not seeing each of us as we are but instead as we can be at the finish line.
As imitators of Jesus, we need to view others like Jesus does, always hoping, seeing the qualities, over the flaws, strengths not weaknesses, not loving them based on position, popularity, or wealth, but because we are all in the same family, made in God's image, all flawed, all needing love, edification, and encouragement from each other.
Today, beloved, put on your "Jesus filtered glasses" and watch what happens when we do!
"and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:3
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:15-17
Jesus hung out with people who needed help. Prostitutes, criminals, despised tax collectors, untouchables, and those whom our culture would call "losers", "low-life's ", maybe worse.
The culture saw failure and brokenness, but Jesus saw potential.
He looks past what current circumstances appear to be.
He knows the heart of every person;
where there is brokenness He sees restoration and repair;
where there is sickness He sees healing,
instead of darkness, light;
from death and destruction He calls forth life.
Out of the ashes He brings beauty, not seeing each of us as we are but instead as we can be at the finish line.
As imitators of Jesus, we need to view others like Jesus does, always hoping, seeing the qualities, over the flaws, strengths not weaknesses, not loving them based on position, popularity, or wealth, but because we are all in the same family, made in God's image, all flawed, all needing love, edification, and encouragement from each other.
Today, beloved, put on your "Jesus filtered glasses" and watch what happens when we do!
"and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:3
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