Not His Own He Calls 3/13/2024
Daily Devotions: by Christina FarrisLuke 5:27-32 KJV
27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Jesus did not come into the world to call the righteous but the sinner. He started with his own people and even walked among the gentiles. If we turn back even before the law of God was writen, God was always seeking people outside his group. Coming to nations and blessing them outside his group. Pharaoh at the time of Jacob had a dream that Jacob's son Joseph would interpret. With that interpretation came belief and Joseph was place over the storehouse because of a terrible famine. Egypt a land of plenty was going to face a famine but God showed them grace and no one starved not even people from surrounding regions even God's people were provided for through Pharaoh's storehouses. Yet even with the famine it did not turn Egypt heart toward God and time passed and God would demonstrate his wrath.
One may think by not sharing about God wrath might not come if they teach good behavior but this is not so. Jacob's children would walk unknowingly into exile for laughing and imprisoning Joseph but would be freed by the demonstration of God's wrath following the enemy right into the wilderness as pharaoh and his horsemen were swallowed by the red sea.
Jesus came seeking the sinners that would become saved. He sought those that knew of his coming by prophesy not of his own. Matthew was a Jew but also a publican(taxcollector). Making not all tax collectors a betrayer, but giving Jesus a bad reputation as he sat for a meal with publican and sinners. Jesus had called a tax collector of jewish faith and he was chastised by the religious leader's that apparently refuse to eat with the people they were also invited to dine with. Good conversation despite what they thought about their situation of not being able to eat with sinners. Joseph had no law of food preparation set by laws established in the wilderness. No trouble of Jacob going to get wheat and other supplies. Yet these dietary laws had separated the righteous from the sinners. Jesus was at Matthew house I almost want to bet food was Kosher though other types could of been present. The heathen having no trouble eating even with the righteous. Jesus was setting a standard. Yet it seemed against Jewish law.
Can you reach anyone you look down on. God is looking down upon us but he looks down seeing people in danger of things they understand not. Man's sin leads to illness, can lead to harm to another. There are place that people can go to have a great overlook. One overlook the image of Budhah hand is extended and you can climb up on the hand that is extends over a high mountain view. The images of the hike and valley below is gorgeous. I looked at the hand out stretched, and watched someone I did not know climb to the top of the hand, my thoughts were how dangerous a climb, if earthquake came at that moment and it gave way you be falling from a great height. There are overlooks in my own state I would not adventure that close to the edge to see the breath taking view. Most that hike, hike to sit on that ledge with bragging rights. Some places should not be climbed by amatuers because it will lead to death.
The truth should you climb up just for the view of the world. Leaders in government walk among all sorts of people. They follow them and get all sorts of views. Some pathways leads to destruction while others become cherished roads of life. There many things human do that is not sin that is dangerous. It is sin that effects society in away that kills the human soul tgat dangerous. Pharisees were looking down on those that did things not necessarily by tradition to their understanding of faith, were watching and standing by hoping people want to be like them. Never understanding some traditions understood by one and not to another would not condemn the soul of man. Just like dangerous hikes might kill but not necessarily kill the soul. There been rocks that have stood for thousands of years like traditions but it does not mean these rocks will not one day roll.
The solid rock of Jesus will not fade or fall with time. Though many other rocks will crumble. Many pathways taught will crumble. Even though many may not be harmful to the body but they are harmful to the soul. Jesus was not breaking law by what they ate but by mingling with those, whose pathways might lead to destruction. Instead of praying Lord lead the sinner to faith, they were to shun and refuse to dine with the sinner, leaving a very bad impact of faith in God. God called the righteous to share his message of love. If eating with the sinners pne can provide the food and drinks, unless there special dietary needs of the sinner they will likely try your food or something you eat. trading good things of culture with others is healthy but it does not mean it not like standing on a cliff. One false step can and will lead to death of the body but not necessarily tge soul. For we are saved by grace, not by works. We saved through Christ Jesus who died for our sins and rose again 3 days later.
Governments seeing the value of culture exchange also understands the hazards. Yet often they care not of the human soul only the greed of money. Missionary carrying the Gospel will learn about the culture of another. Jesus call was to go to the sinners because righteous knew him by the writtings but not the action. His action were for teaching how to share his love.
Dear Heavenly Father as we climb the heights of mountains for the overlook and walk in valleys. Keep our feet from slipping that stepping into that overlook can cause. May we stand by your word. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study: Revelation 6:15-17 KJV
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
http://www.turtle30cshell.com
|