TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
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. Mark 2:15
Read: Mark 2:15-16
Listen: Mark 2
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Levi (Matthew) throws Jesus a party. Mark tells us there are a lot of people at the party. He even adds a description the people are tax collectors and sinners. Jesus shouldn’t be there. In that culture, going into the house of a tax collector or sinner would’ve made you unclean, contaminating and ostracizing you. The religious leaders can’t believe Jesus is there and asks about it. Jesus’s answer surprises them. He’s the God-man. Instead of being contaminated by the sin of those around him, he forgives sins. Jesus doesn’t wait until people are perfect to hang out with them. He goes to their house. He came to find sinners and mend their souls, not avoid them.
Our culture drives wedges between people. It’s a “my way or the highway” mentality. We’ve lost the art of disagreement while still being friends. Jesus didn’t seem to operate that way. He wasn’t scared of someone with a questionable past or who was making some poor life decisions. Jesus’s life serves as a model of what our life can be. We can partner with Jesus in finding sinners and pointing them to the one who can mend their souls. We don’t do this by avoiding sinners. We don’t do this by rejecting people because of how they’ve messed up or fearing their sin will “contaminate” us. Jesus offers a new way for us to live and love.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Ask God to help you think of the people you are rejecting primarily because of their sin. This could be someone you’ve stopped talking to, or it could even be a group of people you avoid. It could be a family member, a friend or a co-worker. Ask God to forgive you for that attitude and come up with a plan to try to welcome that person as a way to point them to Jesus.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
May is SECRECY. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
