Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Luke 14-16
Luke 15:2
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
They thought it a slur, we take it as an anthem. Jesus receives sinners, praise the Lord for that! The Pharisees and scribes wanted to hurt him, yet they promoted him. All sinners of the day flocked to Him, they wanted to be received by Him, wanted to eat with Him, if for no other reason than that He might heal them of their sins. Many of the Pharisees and scribes, those religious rulers that looked down their ski slope long noses at sinners should know we sinners love the fact that Jesus receives us. In fact, it is our only hope.
The religious leaders that tried to hurt the Lord with their words, in turn helped the Lord with their words. They invited sinners to Him. What could they do for sinners except condemn? Could they forgive sins, cleanse from past sins, empower against future sins? Could they say, as Isaiah wrote about the Lord: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.? (Isaiah 1:18) No, a thousand times no, all they could do was condemn.
It is like those today that say of Bible believing followers of Christ: “You are so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good.” Hey, isn’t it better to be that than so earthly minded that we are no heavenly good? Their words do not hurt us, for in them is a thread of truth. Or those that say, “You’re a hypocrite!” Absolutely we are. So was Paul for he said in Romans 7:19, For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. We are hypocritical at times. The old adage is true: “There is some good in the worst of us and some bad in the best of us.” That makes us hypocrites to a degree.
Another slur hurled toward fine Christians is that they are sheeple. Yes, we are, we are people and we are sheep. Our Shepherd loves us, leads us, provides for us, and lovingly spends time with us. We hear His voice and follow Him. Additionally, we are sorrowful for all those who are not His sheeple, we want them to be, for we know how green His pasture is, how still His waters are, and that He, and only He can restore our souls. We gladly follow our Shepherd. Our opinions are based on His Word, our work is based upon His leading, and our future is secure in His person.
“Goody two shoes.” Trying to be. “Square.” Yep as square as the Bible is square. “Bible thumper.” Thanks for noticing, for I am. “Narrow.” Yes sir, as narrow as the narrow way.
Yes, it is true, sometimes the enemy has more insight to the Lord and by extension to us than we even know. Listen to their words, for in them, there may be truth. Hey, in closing, isn’t it a good thing that Jesus receives sinners?
Dr. William T. Howe
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