The 'righteous' in the days of Jesus, (or should I say self-righteous?) were prone to call everybody but themselves 'sinners'. This verse is our Lord's response to an inquiry about why He dare eat with 'sinners'. Specifically pointed out in the previous verse is a particularly notorious and hated group of 'sinners' called tax collectors. This time of year tax collectors are not the most popular people, that is for sure. Even those associated with those who are collecting taxes hear a lot of grief, because who wants to pay taxes. Well, we have to, I understand, but so much? Especially considering how irresponsible those are who administrate all those monies. In our country, the system is pretty sick, and definitely needs a doctor. But that system is only a reflection of the sickness of our society and culture. It is so easy to throw stones. It is so easy to categorize into us and them and cast aspersions and blame.
What is wrong with our system? It was founded on many Christian and biblical principles. We have strayed a long was from those truths. The buildings that house our legal system are decorated with many scriptures and the ten commandments. Yet, we don't seem to remember what they say, or why they are there. We are straying from our core beliefs. What is wrong with our system is the same thing that is wrong with us as individuals. Sin. As with most things that we struggle with in our lives, the first step to getting better is to admit that we have a problem. Pride makes this so difficult. Remember when 9/11 happened? Our leaders and all of us flocked to churches and in Washington to the steps of those buildings where those verses are engraved and prayed and quoted the Bible and pleaded with God for protection and help. There was even a spirit of repentance. It seems to have worn off. I did hear a little of it again when there was an earthquake last week. The bigger the catastrophe, the bigger the spiritual response, I guess.
You see, we must remember that God knows us. Knows us through and through and loves us still and all. We take for granted His blessings and provisions. We forget what sustains us and Who keeps planets spinning in their places. We forget that we are sinners. We forget that we need a Savior. Not just when we are attacked, or when the ground is shaking, or when we get offended, or victimized, or neglected. When we are healthy and all is going well, God can be an afterthought. But when we are sick and things start to fall apart, we all of a sudden got religion. By our very nature we are sick and corrupted. We need a Savior all the time. That Savior wants us to understand that we are inherently and compulsively sick and need The Great Physician. Don't forget you are sick and you will more often remember you need a Savior. God wants us to be totally dependent on Him. May His grace abound in you today as you face yourself and deal with this broken, fallen world. You, me, the world and everyone in it needs a Savior. His name is Jesus.
Respond with me,
Pastor Fred
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment