Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors will you sit at His table?

6/12/2019

Keep yourself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 21 NKJV

It seems young people who do not attend church have a low opinion of Christians. They think we are self righteous and hypocritical. A Pastor said the views held by unsaved, un-churched young people are probably correct to some degree. I agree with him.

The biggest problem in any church is the people who attend it. All people sin and fall short of the glory of God!

Jesus is not calling us to defend ourselves or argue against the negative stereotypes of Christians. Jesus is calling us to serve Him by humbling ourselves before people who are critical of us. The Lord is calling us to follow His example of laying down His life for us!

Going to church on Sunday is a priority for me. I read my bible every day. I pray and set time aside for fellowship with Jesus every day. Those are good disciplines to build into my life.

Only God can change my heart. Only God can mold me and shape me into the image of Jesus. The Holy God of the bible calls us to be Holy. The Lord of perfection calls us to be perfect!

How can we be Holy? How can we be perfect? Love covers over a multitude of sins!

How do we keep ourselves in the love of God? We keep ourselves in the love of God by extending the mercy and grace of God to other people!

It is human nature to cry out to God for mercy when we sin and expect the Lord to judge other people for their sins. Man’s ways are not God’s ways!

In James 2:13 we read; for judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment. Jesus is telling us we will be judged by the same standard we use to judge other people. Jesus holds us to a higher standard because we carry His name. Jesus expects more of us because we belong to Him!

Do not judge unsaved people by the righteous standards of God. Ask the Lord of the Harvest to use you to accomplish His good and perfect will for their other people’s lives.

Ask God to give you a willing heart so He can accomplish great and mighty things in your life and with your life. Ask Jesus to give you what you need when you need it so He can use you to bring other people into His Kingdom!

Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors. How can you sit at His table? Jesus never condemned sinners. He did criticize people who thought they were sinless. Don’t look down on anybody. God lifts-up the humble in spirit. He opposes the proud in heart. Honor Jesus and the God of grace will honor you!

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Louie Garcia

Joyfor2day daily devotional goes out over the internet to thousands of people all over the world five days a week

Jesus can use you to shake the foundations of the prison and set people free!

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour. Acts 16:16-18 NKJV

The slave girl was speaking the truth. She was possessed by an evil spirit. The evil spirit was drawing people away from Christ!

This attack came as God’s servants went to prayer. The enemy of our souls attacks when we step out in faith. Satan seeks to distract us. He wants us to focus our attention on things other than Jesus.

The devil perverts the truth. He uses it against us. No one can serve two masters. This girl was speaking the truth about Paul and his companions while practicing witchcraft. When people claim to speak for God we must consider how they live.

The girl followed the disciples for several days before they cast the demon out of her. It is important for us to wait on the Lord before stepping out in faith. The bible tells us Paul was greatly annoyed by this girl. Paul was not fearful. The Lord was with Him!

Paul and Silas were put in jail. The owners of the slave girl were angry at the loss of income when the demon was cast out of her. While Paul and Silas were in jail they shared the gospel with the jailer. His entire household was saved.

God uses Satan’s attacks for His glory and our salvation!

Satan is a real being. He takes people captive to do his will. There really are demons who seek to destroy God’s people and bring destruction to our world.

We have nothing to fear from the devil or his demons when we live according to God’s will. We have nothing to fear from anyone or anything when we step out in faith to serve Jesus!

Jesus wants us to fear Him and Him alone. He wants us to know His power and authority are unequaled in all of creation.

God wants you share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people in your life. Jesus wants you to walk in great boldness because He is with you everywhere you go!

Jesus can use you to shake the foundations of the prison and set people free!

Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors will you sit at His table?

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Louie Garcia

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