Are you too bad to be saved?

Who are we to judge…

'Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum? ” When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”' Mark 2:13-17

in this passage Jesus picks levi (who was less than perfect) to have dinner with; of which levi invites others who were less than desirable according to the pharisees - tax collectors (who stole from others and their people) and sinners (people just like i was and even worse). like the pharisees who judged others because of how highly/godly they thought of themselves, felt the stigma and stares of my past from people who didn’t really know me but knew of what i did.

i’m sure levi was surprised, but also full of joy, that the Lord would call on him for such a honor - to to be able to share a meal with the King of Kings and also become His’ disciple. it’s not always easy to wonder why God would choose to use me, a sinner, with all the baggage and past to serve in any capacity. like the pharisees who only saw those that were not like them as “scum”, i had seen myself as such and wondered who could/would forgive, let alone love, someone like that, like me.

love that Jesus points out He came for the sick, those needing help, and not those whose pride and self-righteousness blinds them from seeing who they really are. just glad the Lord came for me.

a church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints ~ abigail van buren ~

these passages are a reminder for me to not be judgmental, to not look down on anyone, and to not boast of myself and any good that i have done. need to understand that i, too, was one of those that people didn’t want to associate with or be around. how then, while saved, could/would i do what the pharisees did - criticize and belittle.

instead i need to learn to love unconditionally, albeit difficult, and continue working in this area of my life because everyone deserves to be. i’m not perfect and can do better each and every day to help bring others to Christ - to help those in need, hurting, & lost.

Father God, thank you for this reminder that you sent your Son, Jesus, to come for people like me - broken, sinful, and distant. you treated me with unconditional love through the sacrifice of our Lord. teach me to extend the same to others that they may know who Christ Jesus is. may my life be lived out that shows of who you are, who my Savior is. in Christ’s mighty & precious name i pray, amen!