Today as I read this I recognized a very clear line between the love of Christ and the hate of religion. In the beginning of this verse the heart of Christ shines perfectly, as the hate of religion darkens the latter. .... Unfortunately Christians have gotten tangled up in religion and it's rituals in hopes of achieving righteousness, holiness and Christlikeness. Christians, being human and all, have a strange competitive spirit when it comes to the Christian walk (I guess we have forgotten that he who is last is first...)..It is this "I have to be a better Christian than you" mentality that is the very breeding ground for religion and pride.
Somehow, the fact that Jesus washed the feet of Judas gets lost in the race to "perfection" During this tournament of pharisees...mercy get's lost...even crucified. I have heard some starchy, tailored Christians say that they will love people, but they refuse to get down in the ditch and "waller" and the truth is it is impossible to get into a ditch to help a broken person without some wallering and getting dirty. I've heard others say, they refuse to hang out with sinners....WHY? Jesus did...He hangs out with you, doesn't He?
I think that we ALL have this line inside of us, and WE ALL cross it from time to time...THANk GOD for mercy. But, ALWAYS remember that just because you never miss a church service, or you fast once a month, or you pray for one hour a day, or you __________ (fill in the blank) does not mean that you are reflecting the heart of Christ....If you are not LOVING people and extending mercy, all of your sacrifices are worthless...You can speak the language of angels, but if you have not love you have become a clanging noisy cymbal, that NO ONE will listen to or come to.Everywhere He went people came because they heard of His perfect love.... People were drawn to Christ, not because of His sacrifices, but because He loved UNCONDITIONALLY!!
You see LOVE and MERCY go hand in hand....you can't have one without the other
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”--Matt 9:9-13
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”--Matt 9:9-13
People who think that "hanging out with sinners" will harm their "testimony" are DEAD WRONG... Jesus hung out with sinners...WE are the reason that He came!!!
When you get too "holy" to get in a ditch you better do a heart check...
AND thank GOD for mercy
Just Bb
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain...1 Cor 15:10
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