January 12
Matthew 9:1-17
Who is Jesus? This is the most critical question for every person to answer. Yet it was difficult for those in Jesus’ day to answer, as it is also hard for people in our world today. Jesus did not fit into anyone's preexisting box when he came to Earth. The Pharisees could not make sense of the fact that he claimed to forgive sins, while at the same time he was eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus took sin more seriously than the Pharisees as seen in his preaching in Matthew 5-7; while at the same time having a radical view of forgiveness. All who came to Jesus, regardless of their immorality, were offered forgiveness and relationship with him. This included people like Matthew who would have been seen as a traitor to Israel as a tax collector for Rome, or people like the Pharisees who hated Rome.
The seeming paradox of calling people to righteousness while also spending time with all people is a hard balance, but one which Jesus perfectly lived out. He was filled with grace and truth. Do we reflect these attributes of Jesus in our lives? Are we willing to speak the hard truth that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone? Are we also willing to be with those who are far from Christ and involved in behaviors that we would not approve? Learning this balance is part of what it means to walk in the way of Jesus.
Father God, help me to love others well. Help me to do this by sharing your salvation with those who are far from you. Amen.
Who in your life is far from Christ? How can you intentionally spend time with them and share Christ with them?
Who is Jesus? This is the most critical question for every person to answer. Yet it was difficult for those in Jesus’ day to answer, as it is also hard for people in our world today. Jesus did not fit into anyone's preexisting box when he came to Earth. The Pharisees could not make sense of the fact that he claimed to forgive sins, while at the same time he was eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus took sin more seriously than the Pharisees as seen in his preaching in Matthew 5-7; while at the same time having a radical view of forgiveness. All who came to Jesus, regardless of their immorality, were offered forgiveness and relationship with him. This included people like Matthew who would have been seen as a traitor to Israel as a tax collector for Rome, or people like the Pharisees who hated Rome.
The seeming paradox of calling people to righteousness while also spending time with all people is a hard balance, but one which Jesus perfectly lived out. He was filled with grace and truth. Do we reflect these attributes of Jesus in our lives? Are we willing to speak the hard truth that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone? Are we also willing to be with those who are far from Christ and involved in behaviors that we would not approve? Learning this balance is part of what it means to walk in the way of Jesus.
Father God, help me to love others well. Help me to do this by sharing your salvation with those who are far from you. Amen.
Who in your life is far from Christ? How can you intentionally spend time with them and share Christ with them?
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
February
Categories
no categories
No Comments