CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Wednesday, February 17th, 2016
Leviticus 4:1-5:19
Mark 2:13-3:6
Psalm 36:1-12
Proverbs 10:1-2
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1cOxd5w
Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” – Mk 2:16
Do you spend time with people who are not committed Christians? Do you attend church with folks who don’t have all their stuff together? Is your sanctuary open to the worst among sinners?
Your church shouldn’t look perfect. There should be hurting people who come in search of wholeness. There should be sick people who come looking for healing. There should be sinners who come seeking forgiveness. And when they come hungry for the Gospel, God will meet them all with open arms.
We must abandon the Americanized view we have all adopted of a “perfect” church. Would it be nice to go to a church where everyone is healthy and wealthy, nobody is socially awkward, and everyone has all of life’s problems figured out? Of course! Would it feel safe? Of course! Would it be encouraging? Of course! But it wouldn’t be the Gospel.
Jesus sat with tax collectors and sinners. He reached out and healed the hurting and the broken. He fed the hungry, and lifted up the outcast and the oppressed. So too should we! It might get a little messy, but God’s house will be full of love.
When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” – Mk 2:17
Prayer:
Father, give me the courage to seek out the people around me who need Your love the most. Give me the boldness to invite everyone I meet to church: the sick, the needy, the homeless and the broken. I know Your Gospel can heal what no man can!
View today’s post on our website: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-48-the-perfect-church/
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-48-ruffling-feathers/
See commentary from this day in 2015: http://intelligentcharismatic.com/day-48-laying-on-of-hands/
© Michael D. White, 2016. All rights reserved.