Missionary Renegade: The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Monday, 25 April 2016

Monday, April 25, 2016

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection of Leawood, Kansas, United States for Monday, 25 April 2016 - "Jesus loved 'sinners'”

Daily Scripture: Matthew 21:28 “But give me your opinion: a man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 He answered, ‘I don’t want to’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to his other son and said the same thing. This one answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he didn’t go. 31 Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they replied. “That’s right!” Yeshua said to them. “I tell you that the tax-collectors and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you! 32 For Yochanan came to you showing the path to righteousness, and you wouldn’t trust him. The tax-collectors and prostitutes trusted him; but you, even after you saw this, didn’t change your minds later and trust him.

Luke 15:1 The tax-collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Yeshua, 2 and the P’rushim and Torah-teachers kept grumbling. “This fellow,” they said, “welcomes sinners — he even eats with them!”

Reflection Questions:
In Matthew 21, Jesus' enemies from the religious “establishment” of his day were challenging his right to teach as he did. We see their attitude reflected in the complaint voiced in Luke 15. Far from backing off, Jesus told them that “sinners” (including prostitutes) were more open to true spiritual change than the self-righteous people who refused to change their own hearts and lives while despising the “sinners.”

Two sons—one rebellious at first, but obedient in the end, the other one saying the right words while inwardly he doggedly went his own way. When Jesus spoke positively of “sinners” (and specifically of “prostitutes,” whom he named in explaining his story’s point), he was observing the gap between how we look outwardly and what goes on inside us. Jesus' story didn’t cover all options, but which of the two sons in this story do you identify with more? What does it take to be an obedient child of God both outwardly and inwardly?
Resurrection’s purpose keeps us focused on God’s call to reach out to “non-religious and nominally religious people.” At times that would no doubt have led the “Pharisees and legal experts” in Luke 15 (or their modern equivalents) to grumble that “this church welcomes sinners.” Do you believe you would qualify to join a church that did not welcome “sinners”? How comfortable are you if you meet a “sinner” in worship or at another church activity?

Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for caring about and welcoming “sinners.” I’m thankful that there is a place for me in your heart and in your Kingdom. Amen.Insights from Donna Karlen

Donna Karlen serves in Communications at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
When we hold onto our anger
And choose not to forgive;
When envy clouds our vision,
And we resent the way we live:
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Because we get impatient
And hurt the ones we love;
Or decide to look the other way
When God nudges from above:
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
When instead of the fruit of the Spirit,
We embrace the deadly sins;
And let lust, greed, pride and more
Be the force that wins:
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
For pointing fingers and judging,
so that a child of yours feels small;
Or speaking ill and spreading lies
Just to make them fall:
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
For times we just ignore your call
And pass by the least of these;
For the hardening of our hearts –
Instead of falling to our knees:
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Glory! “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!”