Matthew 9
Shortly after I got ordained into the
ministry I was asked by someone, “What do you do?” By this he meant, “What do
pastors do?” and, as the conversation went on it became clear that the heart of
his question was, “Why does your job matter?”
What we do as Christians focuses on
sharing the message of God’s love and forgiveness in the world. To a believer,
that is one of the greatest honors and joys of our lives. To someone who does
not believe, God’s love and forgiveness are not necessarily things that trouble
to them. They can quite honestly ask, “Why does that matter?”
When we get to the heart and core of the
matter, Jesus’ purpose is to save sinners. This is what His ministry is about. The
people Jesus dealt with understood the concepts of sin and forgiveness. They
did not, however, think a person could be forgiven the way Jesus forgave them.
Nor did they necessarily accept that what Jesus was giving was what they really
needed. For instance, people brought the paralytic to Jesus. The outward need
was his paralysis. What did Jesus give him? Forgiveness. Then, as evidence of
the forgiveness He gave healing. Or later, Jesus ate with tax collectors and
sinners. The outward need was for them to get their lives in order and for them
to do what was right. What did Jesus give them? He showed that He was there as
one to heal their sin.
When we go about our lives in this world
there will be push-back which questions the validity of what we believe. The
world will value our works of charity and those things that benefit what they
see as society’s needs. We understand, however, that the world needs more than what
the world thinks matters. Running feeding programs and homeless shelters,
gathering food, clothing, and hygiene items for the needy, advocating for
justice, and these kinds of things are absolutely activities God’s people
should be engaged in. They are part of how we display our love for our neighbor.
But, when it comes down to it, the most important thing we can give our
neighbor the forgiveness Jesus won for them in His death and resurrection.
Lord Jesus, help me to serve the world in my
actions and by giving it what it really needs; the message of Your salvation.
Amen.
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