"But
go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I
did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Insights: The fourth barrier that the Billy
Graham Evangelistic Association has identified is the thought: Some people are
too sinful for God to forgive. In today’s
verse Jesus stated the very purpose for which He came to earth—to call
sinners. In the eyes of these Pharisee’s
with which Jesus is speaking Matthew is the worst kind of reprobate. In their minds because Matthew chose to
become a tax collector he betrayed his people.
From a certain point of view their judgments were correct. As a result, these Pharisees would definitely
have believed in this fourth barrier.
After all Matthew cheated his own people by collecting too much tax from
them in order for him to live a sinful lifestyle. Jesus, however, loved Matthew in spite of his
sinful lifestyle. God loves this world
and does not want them to perish in their sins.
Jesus came to save sinners, period.
In God’s economy there is no scale of sin. In other words, murder is not a more heinous
sin than gossiping. Both are sin and
miss the mark of God’s perfect standard.
One bad thought is all it takes to make one deserving of death in the
lake of fire in God’s economy. It is
those of us here on earth that creates the sin scale. So, you could be a homosexual, abortion
performing, adulterous perusing drug addict who is an ex-convict and Jesus
still died for you. There is no such
thing as a person too sinful for God to forgive. His love is amazing and His grace and offer
of eternal life is always present because He does not desire for any to perish
and spend eternity away from Him and His love.
We in the church do not always do a good job of communicating this
reality. Often times we are more known
for what we don’t believe than for what we really do believe. Beloved, let us go forth into this world
today and let the love of Jesus shine forth from our lives. Let us dispense God’s grace to every one we
meet and let the sweet fragrance of Jesus permeate our lives.
Questions:
- Do
you now understand the absolute lie of this final barrier?
- Are you grateful for the amazing grace and love God has for you no matter what sins you have committed?
Prayer: Father, I am so
unworthy of Your love, yet You give it.
Thank You for forgiving me of my sins.
Thank You for saving me even when I was Your enemy full of rebellion and
sin. You truly are amazing and I am
grateful You are my Father. Amen.
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