Election Day Musings

I’m sitting at the church watching the RV’s come and go today - covered in election/political signs.  Each one is filled with young men and women trying to look serious and official while hiding their giddy excitement about being involved in something so much bigger than themselves.  

Whether you are Republican or Democrat or Libertarian or Constitutional or Independent or whatever, as an American, you have the distinct privilege of participating in the governing process.  There is no precedent in Scripture to look to if you want to know “how to vote.”  In the First Century, the Church had no say in the governmental process and eventually became objects of its wrath.  It wasn’t until after 300AD that Christianity had any influence in the Empire.

Here is what I find interesting...the Church flourished and grew when she was oppressed and suffering.  Once she had influence and power in the world, she really stopped flourishing.  There were (and are) pockets of faith communities growing and thriving in healthy relationships, but those became less and less the norm.  

Even today, the Church in America is very visible and stable, but I wonder how truly vibrant and transformational she is.  I am constantly thinking about who much it DOESN’T cost me to be a follower of Jesus.  I wonder how much stronger my faith and my relationship with Christ would be if I needed it more.  

Living in America is a great privilege that I do not take lightly.  Yet, if I am honest, I must confess that such a great blessing can also serve as a my greatest curse.  I have never had my faith tested in such a way that my life truly depended on it.  I might never experience that living in America.  And so I wonder how strong my faith really is.  

This election day don’t forget to vote, but also take a few minutes and remember that we live in a society that makes it easy to be a Christian.  While this is great on some levels, we can never forget that Christ’s call of discipleship was a call to come and die.  While you might never face that reality in our culture today, don’t ever get complacent with your faith and your relationship with Christ.  Take time each day to stop and connect with God lest you forget that your relationship with Him is built on a bloody cross, not in a voting booth.

Out of Sync

Have you ever been through a time where you just feel out of sync with the rhythm of your life? It's not that there is anything particularly wrong or some big sin in your life, you just feel "off"?

For some strange, unknown reason that is how I have felt lately. Prayer is work and too often it feels pointless. Spending time in Scripture is a drudgery. I feel very undisciplined and a bit aimless.

Yet...

I've been working with a couple whose marriage was literally about to end and in 2 weeks time God truly did a miracle. I say miracle because that was the only hope they had.

Terra Nova continues to grow in spite of my weakness (or maybe because of my weakness...).

I'm seeing people I love dearly find new ground in their spiritual journey and it thrills me.

Maybe we are prone to get stuck in the morass of difficult times so that we are forced to realize that it is not our strength or our abilities or our greatness that provokes God to move and act. It is actually quite the opposite. It is in our weakness that God is strong.

Don't let your spiritual inabilities get you down. Don't let "off" times make you feel like less of a Christian or less loved by God.

God loves you because you are you, not because of how consistent you have a quiet time or pray. God loves you because you are His creation, not because of all you have accomplished. This means that even when you are under-performing (in your mind) you are still extremely loved by God. He still is quite fond of you.

Rest in that. I know I am trying to.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Pat Robertson & Haiti

I posted my status on Facebook yesterday by saying this, "Someone needs to tell Pat Robertson to shut up." I still feel this way. Robertson basically said the the people of Haiti swore a pact with the devil and this is why they are suffering. He is citing a story he read (he does not give a reference) about how they did this to drive out the French.

I know that telling someone to shut up is not a very nice thing to say, and I know that Pat Robertson in no way represents what the majority of Christians think, but it really angers me that people like that become the loudest voice in the crowd. The more I hear about what happened in Haiti, the more amazed I am at the devastation. I pray that we, the Church, will be able to help restore and rebuild this country.

The Church is not in (nor should it engage in) a public relations war. We are to let God justify us. Our love for each other and the world around us ought to be evidence enough of our faith. When outspoken men or women declare things about us or about God that are simply untrue and misrepresent the truth, our job is not to shout louder in return, but to demonstrate love with even more fervor.

I hope Robertson realizes the damage he has done to the credibility of the Gospel, yet I also know that I, too, am guilty of misrepresenting God's love in a million small ways.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Morning Musings

Lately I have been following the Book of Common Prayer for my daily Scripture readings. This morning it directed me to Psalm 101. Verse 3 of this passage said,

I will not look with approval

on anything that is vile.

This verse really made me think. What do I look on with approval that I shouldn't? What vile things enter my line of sight on a regular basis? Do I look away? Do I permit these things in my view?

What do I look at on a regular basis? What media do I allow into my home? What shows and movies do I watch that might be considered "vile"?

I know this is all very subjective. What is vile to me may not be vile to you (and vice versa). I am in no way imposing my standards on you, but I would like to challenge you - what do you consider vile in your heart of hearts? Do you allow it in your sight? What images need to be purged from your sight? Are you willing to actually stop looking at them?

I am asking God to soften my heart so that I am sensitive to things that are vile to Him. I wonder what I will see that I didn't used to notice, but now I will consider vile?

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Smelly Gifts

This week my kids purchased gifts for their teachers. I find this practice an interesting concept. It seems a bit like tipping a waitress, only we entrusted our children to her for 6 hours a day and expected her to provide them with an education and hopefully reinforce the same values and expectations we have. She is grossly underpaid and under-resourced. She somehow convinced my child that learning was a good thing and worth time and effort. She kept a good attitude despite the stress I know my child caused in her life.

So we bought her some nice smelling stuff.

This just doesn’t seem right. But we do it every year.

As I pondered this, started wondering if we haven’t begun to treat all that God does for us like we do our kids’ teachers. Scripture says that in Him we live and breath and have our being. He is the author of life. He is our redeemer. He is the giver of all good gifts. And the list goes on…

So we come to church (usually) and throw a little cash in the basket.

This just doesn’t seem right. But we do it every year.

Under the Mercy,

Jason

Jonah 2:10-3:3 - Second Chances!

The Lord commanded the fish...

The Word of the Lord came to Jonah...

When God speaks to animals, they automatically obey. It really isn't even a command, it just happens. But when God speaks to humans, we have the ability not to obey.

Yet God keeps talking.

He is a God of second times.

As I read these words, I realize how many times God has had to talk to me several times before I listen.

How 'bout you?

Under the Mercy...again,
Jason

PS. I love that this is the one place in Scripture where vomitting is a positive thing. Usually it is a sign of judgment. Here it is a sign of salvation.

Jonah - It's a Sorta Fairy Tale

God speaks. Jonah runs. A big fish swallows Jonah. Jonah obeys. An entire city repents. Jonah pouts. Aesop would love this story. Brothers Grimm would drool over this material. Pinocchio was inspired by this story. Yet there it is, right in the pages of Scripture. What can we learn 3000 years later from this ancient tale of disobedience and second chances?



If I take a bird's eye view of this story, I see several key actions that help us understand what the story is all about. But before we can even begin, we must address the elephant in the room: Was Jonah an actual event or was it simply a legend or tall tale told to teach a moral?



In addressing this question, I have to start with a disclaimer - whether Jonah is an actual event or based on an event that grew over time, it does not change my faith or my belief in the inspiration of Scripture. Just as Job could serve simply as a story helping men and women deal with the problem of evil, so also, this narrative could have actually happened or it not and either way it will not make me question the validity of Scripture in its ability to help me develop and grow in a relationship with God.



That being said, I do start with the assumption that there was a prophet named Jonah (see 2 Kings 14:25) and he went to Nineveh and preached after first running away from God and being saved from a terrible storm by having some strange (supernatural) encounter with a great fish. I am not worried about the details of whether a man could survive in a fish for 3 days, I am concerned with what this passage teaches us about God.



So we dive in...



Big picture -

3 times, "God provided."

• A fish


• A gourd


• A worm

This is one story where the prophet seems more volatile than God. God is bending over backward to save a Gentile city that later enslaved the Israelite people. God is demonstrating that His grace extends beyond the Hebrews. I see Genesis 12:3 - All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you - happening. I see a God of SECOND CHANCES.



I think my favorite verse in book is 3:1 - Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah A SECOND TIME.



Jonah is about asking ourselves if we are more about status quo and the way things are or if we are about stepping out in faith and letting the Spirit of God move us to compassion for those God has compassion for. This tale is about asking ourselves if we are going to settle for religion that is predictable and subversively tries to manipulate God or if we are open to the roller coaster, white knuckled ride of a relationship with the Creator of the Universe.



It may be a "Sorta Fairy Tale" (my apologies to Tori Amos for using the title for her song)...



but is asking for anything but a sorta relationship with God.



It is asking if you are going to be all in or if you are just going to sit on the sideline. I am reminded of Revelation 3:16 - you are neither hot nor cold so I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.



Jonah is more than a story about a fish, it is a story about a God who does whatever it takes to have a relationship with His creation...His people...His children - whoever and wherever they are or go. Even if they are satisfied with religion (status quo), He is not. Are you ready to explore your relationship with God?

Ecclesiastes 12 - The End

Today we read the last chapter in Ecclesiastes. It has been a depressing journey through the thoughts of the wisest, wealthiest, most powerful man of his day. The more I read this book, the more I realize how blessed I am that I am not wise, wealthy or powerful! Maybe there is joy in simplicity. Maybe there is joy in vulnerability. Maybe there is joy in doing life one day at a time, in the present, being fully present with God and those around you.

The last verse of the book says,

"For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil."

I have been reflecting a lot lately on judgment. I have come to realize how much (and often) I judge people and their actions. I have also realized that I rarely listen to the whole story. I rarely hear the complexity of the situation. Too often, I only see the rules and regulations I put in place (my religious system) and then I give myself power by using that system to judge.

What if judgment was less about God telling you how good or bad you are and more about God helping you discover how loved you are by Him? What if judgment is more about helping you see how the rules you constructed limited your ability to love others unconditionally? What if judgment is more about God helping you rid yourself of pain, grudges, bitterness, and lack of love? What if judgment ends up being a good thing - cathartic?

I think this boils down to how much we really trust God and His goodness and love. Do we really think (and then live out this thought daily) that God is good and is working toward our goodness? Can I live out this kind of goodness in the context of my relationships? Maybe judgment is more about me discovering love than about me being punished...

If life is truly meaningless, then there is no reason for judgment. If judgment is about bringing meaning to my life by helping me love, then bring it on! Show me how to love...how to be more fully present...how to live in Christ and Christ in me...how to listen to His voice each moment as I see how dearly fond God is of me and all those around me.

Maybe that is true meaning in life. I'm willing to find out...

Under the Mercy,
Jason

The Shack

While I have been recovering from surgery, I decided to read what I thought would be a lighter book that I could just enjoy. I picked up a copy of The Shack over Christmas, but hadn't really started it. Monday afternoon I decided to pick it up and see what it was like. I finished it this morning (between naps...sorry, still trying to get the anesthesia out of my system).

While I don't want to jump on a bandwagon, I have to admit, this book was amazing. I agree with Eugene Peterson who says "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his."

I'm sure there are controversies around the book (I haven't kept up on any of that), but I felt I needed to at least let anyone who reads this blog know about it. I highly recommend it. It has helped me re-imagine my relationship and my understanding of God and His grace.

I won't give any of the plot away - especially since I know I can't articulate it as well as Young did in the book - but I will tell you that he helped me see a lot of my hangups and misconceptions for what they were.

I guess, I just want to encourage you to take some time and read the book with an open mind. There are parts that will surprise you and parts that will offend you and parts that will make you cry (yes, I cried a few times...shut up and read the book!).

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Jason

Ecclesiastes 11 - Still pretty depressed!

So this chapter doesn't really lift your spirits either. Yet the more I read, the more I realize how much the Teacher is telling us to live in the present. Verse 9 says, "You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your hearts give you joy in the days of your youth."

One thing I have noticed in my life is that I live a lot of it in the past or fretting about the future. It is rare that I truly live in the present with God. I worry about what will happen (usually without remembering that God will be present there). I dwell on what has happened - again forgetting God's presence. How many of us truly live in the present?

What would living in the present look like? It would only be of value if I submit myself to God and simply live through and in Him. I want to see with God's eyes. I want to act out of submission to His will. I want to live in the now without worrying about what is to come because I completely trust Him and Him in me.

I guess the best word I can think of to describe living in the now is contentment. Being satisfied with what is. I know that I am not living this, but I hope to get there soon.

Things I will do to live in the present:
Visualize Christ with me in the now.
See the beauty of each moment.
Trust God's will in each event.
Seek the moving of the Spirit in all things.
Try to see with my inner eyes as much as my physical eyes.

I know this sounds a bit mystical and possibly even silly, but it is what I thought of as I read this passage.

Living in the Now,
Jason

Ecclesiastes 5

Contentment. As I read this passage it makes me think of Paul's words in Philippians 4:12

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

The King tells us in Ecclesiastes that those who love money never have enough, those who are wealthy are never satisfied. He finally finds something good in life (v. 18) - be satisfied with what you have. When I can simply find joy in serving God wherever He puts me, I will make much progress in being content. The key is what I am working for. If I am working for wealthy and power...there will always be more to get. If I am working to glorify God, I can find joy in the smallest thing.

What am I working for? What is my goal in life. Money and wealth will disappear. I can't take it with me...just like Monopoly - when the game is over it all goes back in the box. When I define my goals, I can realize whether or not I will find joy.

Lord, show me my true motives. Show me what it is that I am truly working for. Know my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Solomon: Today he would be considered "EMO"!

Ecclesiastes 1
Life is nothing but a vicious cycle and nothing will ever change.

My life has no meaning because in 100 years it won't matter that I existed.

Ultimately we have no control over anything.

These are, in essence, what Solomon says throughout the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. "Meaningless, meaningless, utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (v. 2). He then talks about how water just flows into the ocean, yet the ocean is never full. The streams' sources just seem to get the water back.

I love that Solomon uses this analogy because today we understand the water cycle - streams, evaporation, clouds, rain, streams. Yet this was a mystery 3000 years ago. It perplexed Solomon (the wisest man to walk the earth!). He even notices that your eyes never get filled with seeing. What an image! Today we take in far more than they did then - TV, internet, buildings, billboards, etc. Yet our eyes never get full and say that you have to clear some things out before we can take in any more.

In essence, I hear a man who is depressed because he realizes that no matter how much he does, it will never be enough. He can't party hard enough, meditate long enough, learn enough, accomplish enough to feel like he done everything. He can't get no satisfication...but he tries and he tries...

This is the voice of modern humanity. If we changed the verbage a bit, I bet we could find similar angst in today's music, poetry, art, and even science. We understand the water cycle, but we can't identify the smallest possible particle - molecules, no - atoms, no - electrons, no - nanoparticles, no...

We can't wrap our hands around the biggest things. Planets, stars, solar systems, galaxies, star systems. It keeps getting bigger.

I truly believe that Postmodernism grew out of the angst of Modernism's search to aleviate all mystery. They failed. Just like Solomon.

Key Question: WHY do you need to know?

Whatever it might be - answers to science issues, answers to philosophical issues - when our goal is to know everything, our goal is really to be God. When our goal is to be God, we will be sorely disappointed and empty.

When our goal is to glorify God, it changes our perspective and our mindset. We are then able to embrace mystery and enjoy it because it reminds us how great and mighty and HUGE God is. And it reminds us that we don't have to be Him...we just need to be us. That is when we find contentment. That is when we rest. That is when find peace.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

What Can I Take for Sophie to See Today?

I have two very distinctive children. Thing One is more impulsive, outgoing, and loud. Thing Two is much more demure, quiet, and girly. While my oldest is running around neighing like a horse, my youngest (5 3/4...you have to add the 3/4!) is picking out which necklace to wear, which lip gloss to put in her purse, and which sweater to wear. My youngest also has a couple of little friends who ride the bus home with her. One of them is named "Sophie." It is not uncommon for Thing Two to ask, "What should I take today to show Sophie?"

While most everyone reading this entry (both of you) is older than 5 and 3/4, I wonder - if we were honest - how many of us would say that we ask a similar question each day. I'm sure the name might be different, but most of try to impress someone each day. It might be the way we dress. It might be the car we drive. It might be the work that we do. It might even be the coffee we bring in to the meeting.

Not to be too obvious and cliche with where this is going, but what if we started inserting God into the sentence? How would that change your day? How would it change the way you drive or the coffee you drink or the words you choose?

Maybe tomorrow morning we should all start the day with the question, "What should I take today to show Jesus?"

Just something I was thinking about tonight.

Under the Mercy,

Jason

Dangerous Discipleship

Ed Stetzer has written several good book on church planting. At the Innovation3 Conference he talked about the "Dangerous Church" (for a summary of his talk click here).

One point that caught my attention was that the Dangerous church would re-think discipleship. I am really struggling with this. Discipleship, up until now, was thought of in terms of taking a class, learning lessons - EDUCATION. Our paradigm for discipleship was education and higher learning. Thank you Enlightenment.

As I try to lead Terra Nova, I am truly wondering how can we help people find "new ground" on their spiritual journey without asking them to take 4 classes and call themselves "discipled"? I want to start over in our understanding of discipleship.

I think discipleship means...

Walking with someone and doing life together; thus trying to figure out how to live out the teachings of Jesus and Scripture in the reality of everyday life. This could mean regular meetings over coffee or small groups of people intentionally doing this, but it could also mean simply pouring yourself into another person. I have several people in my life who I am trying to pour myself into. I do it differently for each of them. Some of them I have to challenge to step and do. A couple of them I have to poke and prod to get them out of their shells. A few I have to ask them to shut up and listen to others. They are all different and every day brings a different situation in which to learn and teach.

Discipleship is less a program and more a mindset. Everything I do is discipleship. When I invite Jimmy over to watch 24, it is discipleship. When I lead staff meeting, it is discipleship. When I go to lunch with the chairman of our board, it is discipleship. When I go out for wings and a beer with some guys, it is discipleship. I have to adopt this mindset...all the time!

Discipleship is about helping someone become who God created them to be. It is not about learning a systematic approach to life and theology (which Postmodernism has demonstrated doesn't always work anyway). I know that parenthetical statement is loaded with issues, but I don't have time to deal with them right now. Discipleship is more like a mentor and apprentice than like a teacher and pupil. I may be a geek, but this is one aspect of the Star Wars movies that I loved - the Jedi master and their "student." They did life and battle and training and thinking and strategizing together. Together was the key. That is where the learning took place. We have lost that in the Church today.

Discipleship is about love. It is about loving another person because that person is God's child and you want that person to blossom. If you don't love another person, you cannot disciple them.

I know there will be more on this later. This is where I'm at right now (late one night while my wife is at work and I muse on this stuff). I would love to hear your feedback.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Daily Bible Reading

I have decided to start reading through Ecclesiastes beginning Feb. 1. If you want to follow along, plan on reading 1 chapter a day starting Feb. 1.

In these days of such uncertainty, I think it will be good to spend some time listening to the philosopher/king muse on how he could not find meaning in all the stuff and success of this world. I would love to hear your thoughts/comments as we go along.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

They were afraid...

Mark 16
While this ends my blog entries on Mark, I will take up another book in a day or two - hopefully announce it Sunday so that all of Terra Nova can follow along.

I love the way Mark ends (how emo of me). The ladies were trembling, bewildered and said nothing because they were afraid. That's how it ends (if you don't count the section that was probably added later - it's in italics in my Bible with a note that says early manuscripts don't have it included).

I think I like this passage because it reminds me that the Church was started by a group of bewildered, scared people who weren't positive what to do next. I like this because more often than not, I can identify with them. Jesus is risen. Angels are elated. I'm too scared to talk.

Yet...the Church grows. People do start talking about the risen Lord. Hope spreads.

As I look at what lies ahead in 2009 for Terra Nova, I have to admit, I don't have all the answers and there are times that I am a little scared. BUT I know that God will grow His Church. My job is to stay in touch with Him. As long as I am staying in touch with Him, we will spread hope to this community (and beyond).

Thanks for reading along with me. I will announce the next book study this week.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Who Are You Preaching For?

Mark 11:12-33
My favorite verse of this section is verse 17. Do you catch the irony of Jesus turning over tables and causing a huge disturbance and yet the text says that He did this and "as He was teaching them He said..."

I love that! Even while cleansing the temple, Jesus is teaching.

This entire section is about authority and power. With the fig tree, Jesus (who I think was in a really bad mood that day and preparing Himself to clean out the temple) curses it and later we find out it whithers. I wonder if, when Jesus tells Peter that when he speaks, he will be speaking with authority and even nature will obey...so WATCH WHAT YOU SAY! I'm not sure if this kind of power is to be expected in followers today or not. I do know that when we pray, we need to be ready for God to act and holding grudges is an obstacle to this happening.

When Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees, it is clear that Mark knows that we know that Jesus' authority is from God. Mark just wants us to see the dark side welling up in the Pharisees and religious leaders.

Here was my takeaway this morning. In my preaching, I need to remember that I am preaching to those who need Jesus and I can't worry about the religious who might come and not like what I say. My job is to be a testimony of what Christ would do today. I will provoke some ill will at times (He did). I will make the wrong people mad at times. I will make the wrong people happy at times (according to the religious leaders of the day). All this to say, my goal cannot be power and popularity if I want to truly preach God's Word. I must trust that God is my authority and He will shut me up or change me if I am going in a wrong direction. I need to be confident in that.

Some interesting thoughts for a Sunday morning...

Under the Mercy,
Jason

The Triumphal Entry

Mark 11:1-11
I've decided to read this section of Mark 11 by itself. I know it's a familiar passage, but since it's Saturday I thought something "light" might be nice. Jesus makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. I have always found this an interesting way to enter. It seems as though Jesus planned this in advance - setting up a signal for someone in the village ahead when He would need the colt.

The people cry out "Hosanna" which means "save." They are quoting from Psalm 118:25-26 and verse 27 talks about joining the festal procession with boughs in our hands. What a site that must have been!

Luke tells us that the Pharisees rebuked Jesus and told Him to make the people stop. His response: "If they keep quiet, the rocks will cry out."

Here's my thought for today. This response of Jesus makes me think of Bono from U2. Here is a "Rock" star who is crying out on behalf of Jesus for justice and the end of oppression and poverty. Why is it that we have reached a point where the rocks have to cry out because the people of God are not? Why is it that the loudest voices for the things God cries out for are usually NOT churches?

I say it's time for churches to give the rocks a break. Let's stand up for "salvation" and the Kingdom of God with all that it brings with it.

Under the Mercy,
Jason

The Road to Jerusalem

Mark 10:32-52
Since the Transfiguration Jesus has set His sites on Jerusalem. He knows what is coming. It would seem the crowd did as well (v. 32 - they were afraid). Jesus explains what is going to happen to the disciples, but they just can't put their mind around what Jesus is telling them. [How many times do I fall into that trap?]

James and John ask Jesus to do something for them - make them the two most powerful men in His Kingdom. This is my favorite verse because in my own way I know I have asked the same thing of Jesus. I want to be powerful. I want to be successful. I want to be famous.

My daughter used to make "famous eggs." This basically meant that she was involved in the process and she liked them so they weren't just "good" they were FAMOUS! If I'm honest, this is what I want Terra Nova to be - famous. I know that in the grand scheme of things, I am merely a helper for God as He builds HIS church in Delaware. I know that I probably get in the way more than I actually help in the process. But I want it to be famous!

As I read about James and John it struck me that I need to work on this mindset. It also struck me that Jesus promised them they would drink the cup He would drink and be baptized with the baptism He is baptized with. I don't know if that is really good news for me...

Where are you in your mindset of power and control? If you could ask Jesus for something what would it be? Why? What are you not asking Jesus for? Why?

Under the Mercy,
Jason

Bucking the System

Mark 2
Jesus is making it clear that He will not be like the other rabbis. He is bringing something new to the table. In chapter 1 people noted that He taught with "authority." In chapter 2 He takes this to a new level.

While I love the story of the man let down through the roof (and there is a ton of theological fodder for discussion there!), it is the next section that caught my attention today. I love how Jesus - with a crowd following Him - picks a hated tax collector as another disciple. Then Jesus goes to his house for a party! Jesus hung out with the rif-raf! My favorite verses of this section are 15-17 where Pharisees get their proverbial panties in a wad over Jesus' eating companions and Jesus makes it clear He is not going to do life by their rules.

God sent Him to reach out to those who thought they weren't good enough. He reaches out to those who think God has (or will) overlook them. A little later in the chapter Jesus really gets the Pharisees goads when He says that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. WHAT???!!! You mean the rules are less about sin management and more about helping us connect with God?

There are 2 ways to read this...
1) You are one of those who doesn't think God notices you. Or worse, He doesn't approve of you and never will. This passage reminds us that this line of thinking just doesn't work with God.

2) You are one of the Pharisees and you don't even realize that you are condemning the people Jesus is having dinner with (and He is not condemning them, just you!).
How ever you need to take this passage, I hope you will be open to God's voice today. Who knows, it might come from the cigar store instead of the Christian book store...

Under the Mercy,
Jason