On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Mark 2:17
Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house. But this was no black-tie event. Everyone was welcome, including sinners, tax collectors, and other followers. These were not the religious elite or the A-list celebrities.
They were ordinary folks and this angered the religious leaders. They wanted to know if Jesus is the true Messiah, then why was He mingling with the swine. Why not take His place and reign as King?
But when Jesus heard this, He made a startling remark. He said, “I didn’t come for the perfect. I came for the damaged, the broken, the sick, the sinners, and the unworthy. That’s who I’m looking for.”
Sometimes, it’s tempting to avoid God. You don’t remember the last time you cracked open a Bible. You lift your eyes and start to pray. But then you think better of it, so you stop before you can get too far.
Shame keeps you held hostage. You can’t stop thinking about that moment when you totally blew it. You can’t help wondering why God would want to hear from someone like you. You use words like “broken, ruined, ugly, or worthless” to describe yourself.
Take comfort, dear one. Christ didn’t come for the perfect. He didn’t come for the religious elite or the rich. He came for the broken, the downtrodden, the aching, the discouraged, and the weary. He came for you and me.
God, I struggle to believe You could care for and love me. But Jesus came for me. He came so I could live free. Help me to embrace Your love, let become my foundation and my identity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.