Pride and our call to reach the lost!

Jesus set an example that few of us imitate.

Mark 2:15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Further we read, lest we get all self-righteous!

Luke 13:1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

All need the great physician, all need Jesus' sacrifice applied to them to be saved, and all need to hear the message of the gospel and repent to have eternal life. But, do we allow our pride or a desire to not get involved with "those people", keep us from bringing them the message that saved us? Are they scary, dirty, do they have weird habits, is spending time with them optional?

Consider Jesus' prayer to the Father.

John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

Have we been sent to do as Christ did?

Is it more likely we will be calling sinners to repentance if we hang around with church folks or by eating with tax collectors and sinners?

Who are the tax collectors and sinners that you could be spending time with? 

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."