(The following is the February 12 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Mark 2 and pay close attention to verses 15-17.)
Religious leaders in Jesus’ day hated that Jesus spent time with tax collectors and sinners (v. 16). On one occasion, Jesus and his disciples were at the home of Levi (also called Matthew, the author of the first gospel). Levi was a tax collector despised by Jews for working with the Roman government. The “sinners” present included people looked down on by society. In the middle of this motley crew sharing a meal was Jesus – the pure, sinless Son of God.
How could our perfect Savior recline and eat with sinners? Jesus explained: “It is not those who are well who need a doctor; but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners” (v. 17). Another time, Jesus said, “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). We cannot share the gospel with the lost if we do not go to them. We cannot fulfill the Great Commission if we hide out in holy huddles of the redeemed. To make new disciples requires that we spend time outside our Christian-only circles.
Naturally, that requires wisdom and discernment from believers to avoid situations where we might succumb to temptation and be indistinguishable from the lost people we seek to reach. For example, it is probably unwise for a former alcoholic saved by Christ to spend time in bars, even if the intention is ministry. The temptation may be overwhelming. Still, we cannot rule out the possibility because of Jesus’ example. He risked the criticism of those who disapproved of him spending time with sinners because he knew he was fulfilling his mission. We, too, must follow Jesus’ lead to go to those who need him wherever that takes us.
Next Step:
What have you done recently to go where needed to seek and save the lost? What places do you frequent in a typical week where non-Christians are present? How can you use those opportunities to initiate faith-related conversations or make comments that point to Jesus?
