How Can I Avoid It?

Daily Reading: Mark 2

Scripture Focus:  And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2.17)

Devotional Thought: In today’s chapter, Mark 2, Jesus meets and calls one of the most despised men in his community to follow him - Levi, a tax collector. Then, Jesus decided to go to Levi’s house for dinner.  There he met many other tax collectors and “sinners.” 

What can we learn from this story?

• First, when Levi began following Jesus, Jesus followed him home!  So, if I am a follower of Jesus Christ, I shouldn’t be surprised when Jesus wants to tag along with me wherever I go - not just home, but also to work and play.  I cannot expect Jesus to stay safely in the church where I can meet with him on my schedule and under my terms.  Nope.  He’s going to want to be with me wherever I am.  And, I won’t be able to keep his presence in my life a secret.

• Second, Jesus not only is going to go with me, but he also wants to spend his time with the people who need him the most: sinners.  Like the compassionate doctor who is not content to hang around healthy people, so Jesus feels that he must be where the sinners are.  Do we want to see Jesus save them, to save not just the ‘respectable sinners’, but the ones that are really "sin sick"?

Let’s put those two things together.  If 1) Jesus wants to go with me where I go and if 2) he wants to spend time with sinners, then it only makes sense that I will be involved in the lives of sinners.  How can I avoid it?

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you follow me around.  You have promised to be with me to the very end of the age.  May your presence in my life bring hope and peace and love to all those I encounter today.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 18.13-18

13 The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire.

14 And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.

15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

16 He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.

17 He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.