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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion EMBRACE February 3, 2010 |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, February 3, 2010 by Penny Risen
Luke 5: 27-32 “Later, as Jesus left the town, He saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with such scum?’
Jesus answered them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor — sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.’ New Living Translation Bible
Levi takes a new name, Matthew, and a new life as Jesus’ disciple. He follows Jesus to reach out to the rich and the poor, the entitled and the desperate. Matthew is someone to be avoided and shunned in the Pharisees’ eyes, but Jesus embraces him. Jesus gives this man a new life, although some may have thought he didn’t deserve such a loving and merciful act.
In our passage from Luke, Jesus shows how he comes to minister to those in need and those who are outcasts. When He sees their sickness in sin -- how they’ve hit bottom for whatever reason -- He lifts them into His arms and welcomes them. As His mission for all on earth continues, Jesus encounters and embraces person after person who has fallen and needs His strength and forgiveness in their lives.
Later in the Gospel of John, Jesus faces a mob eager to stone and execute a woman caught in adultery. He puts a stop to their violence and calms them with a simple challenge: Anyone who has no sin in their life should step forward and throw the first stone. So willing to condemn this person for her sin against her marriage pledge, the enraged individuals are reminded to stop judging others when there are faults in their own lives. Although this narrative doesn’t describe it, we can picture Jesus turning to this woman who is filled with fear and shame, and reaching out His arms to her in mercy.
Everyone, regardless of his or her sin, is worthy of God’s love and grace if they accept this and trust Him to transform their lives. When we are battling the pain and despair of sin, it often is hard to pray for rescue from our Savior. But if we can only put a voice to our appeal – “Lord, please give me strength” – He will hear our call and embrace us with comfort, acceptance and healing. If we reach out in prayer, He will accept us as a guest at His table. He will make a place for us and guide us, in spite of our wrong choices and selfish actions which did not honor Him.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, You are my comfort and my hope. When I think I cannot stand one more indignity or one more hurtful act, Your arms wrap around me in acceptance and help me turn toward a new day and a new beginning. Thank you for granting me Your grace and peace. Amen.