Welcomed with Love
Text: Luke 19:7
All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ (NRSV)
The Church is supposed to be the body of Christ on earth. We are called to be those who continue the ministry of Jesus in our world today. I find it interesting that the Church seems to be more about condemning those who Jesus spent time with than seeking out relationships with those who need Jesus' love and forgiveness the most.
When the Church focuses on condemning instead of welcoming, we have become something other than what Jesus was. Jesus came into the sinful and broken world with the express purpose of welcoming sinners into a relationship with God.
It is not that Jesus condoned sin; it is that Jesus welcomed all without condition. In the process of welcoming, Jesus proclaimed the worth of even the most broken. As the broken recognized their worth in the sight of the Son of God, they began to be transformed by the love offered to them without condition.
How many would come into a life-giving relationship with God if they were welcomed into that relationship with unconditional love flowing from Jesus’ Church instead of hate filled words of condemnation?
Pray with Me:
God of unconditional love and welcome thank you for the love you have given to me as you welcomed me into relationship through the love of Jesus Christ. May I seek to welcome others as I share the unconditional love of Jesus with them. AMEN.
All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ (NRSV)
The Church is supposed to be the body of Christ on earth. We are called to be those who continue the ministry of Jesus in our world today. I find it interesting that the Church seems to be more about condemning those who Jesus spent time with than seeking out relationships with those who need Jesus' love and forgiveness the most.
When the Church focuses on condemning instead of welcoming, we have become something other than what Jesus was. Jesus came into the sinful and broken world with the express purpose of welcoming sinners into a relationship with God.
It is not that Jesus condoned sin; it is that Jesus welcomed all without condition. In the process of welcoming, Jesus proclaimed the worth of even the most broken. As the broken recognized their worth in the sight of the Son of God, they began to be transformed by the love offered to them without condition.
How many would come into a life-giving relationship with God if they were welcomed into that relationship with unconditional love flowing from Jesus’ Church instead of hate filled words of condemnation?
Pray with Me:
God of unconditional love and welcome thank you for the love you have given to me as you welcomed me into relationship through the love of Jesus Christ. May I seek to welcome others as I share the unconditional love of Jesus with them. AMEN.
Related Posts
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Christ In MeIt's A StruggleLiving Out the MessageWhere is Your Heart?Why Give?Do Not be AfraidBlessed AssuranceDon't Leave it up to ChanceIntentional Self-CareTrust and FaithHave I been Crucified with Christ?Burning HeartsSolid FoodTo God be the GloryThe Friend of the BridegroomPure HeartsSeeing God EverywhereIs There No One to Intervene?Teach Me To PrayRedeeming the BadIncomparable GloryCare for God's CreationLife that is Really LifeOperating out of LoveBroken ChainsGod's Gift of GracePay it ForwardFrom Alien to CitizenRooted and Grounded in LoveDoes Jesus Still Weep?
February
Welcomed with LoveFaith DemonstratedLove When I Mess-UpWhat is the Source of my Words?Healing Found in ConfessionExperience is BelievingHoly LivingFrom Fall to GloryGrowing into our SalvationMy Life as a Beacon of LightJoining the People of GodExiles from the Broken WorldLet it GoDon't Get EatenTo Know or to KnowRepetition of the WordMyths or Personal ExperienceGod's TruthEyes to SeeLooking God in the EyeSelf-DeceptionForgive Me My SinWhat Makes Jesus Tick?Don't be Drawn AwayChild of GodJoyous Extravagant GenerosityActing Out TruthLove Restored
March
No Fear in LoveDon't Worry be HappyWorries and DistractionsDon't Be SuperficialSimplifyWorshipDo No HarmSpiritual HealingWhy Not Bring Them to Jesus?Self-CareLooking for JesusWhat's NextHunger for the WordGod Knows BestPrioritiesStaying CenteredThinking Outside of the BoxThe Impact of My Faith100% + 100% = 100%Seeing Strange ThingsAll Are WelcomeThrow a Party!Worthy of Receiving and Giving LoveLOLRecreating With New ClothRulesTake it to the LordTotal DependenceWhat Spills Out of You?Enough SaidThe Faith of an Ousider
Categories
no categories
No Comments