Inviting Sinners Along

As Jesus went out from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him.
While He was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Matthew 9:9-11

Matthew is writing this about himself. This is a first hand account. It is not an emotive account but I wonder what was going on in his heart. The Pharisees saw him as a 'sinner', but Jesus, the light of the world came by and called him, a sinner, to follow Him. What a lightness of spirit Matthew would have experienced, what joy, what unbelievable joy!

The natural thing to do in such a situation is to have a party. He invites all his colleagues to come and dine with his new found Lord.

I remember the day I found Christ and invited Him into my heart, I danced to work, what joy flooded my soul. I wanted to share the good news with everyone I could find, and I did.

The self-appointed judges of society judged Jesus for daring to invite Matthew in. A judge cannot understand grace, but a sinner can.

Who does Jesus want you to invite into your home? Yesterday the Lord prompted me to go for a walk at a certain time and I wanted to eat. I eventually put my dinner aside and went. He is burdened for a funny lady who has lots of dogs, is excentric but needs Jesus. I said hello but missed talking to her by 5 minutes. Had I have gone when first prompted I would have met her in the street.

He already has me having a party next weekend for a lonely African neighbour so that he can make friends. I have a whole lot of Indians coming. But this is different. This lady borders on weird and I need abundant grace to go there. I will. I plan to invite a whole bunch of women from the street to come over and include this lady as I know she is lonely. 

What prevents us from the weird, the border lines of community? Personal prejudice, that's what. I have to drop my attitude and love all He would love. Amen!

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