Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek
15 October 2024
Reading From Matthew 9-10
“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”
When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
–Matthew 9:9-13
In the Old Testament, the question was posed by the Psalmist, “What is man that You are mindful of him?”[1] Jesus is God and so for Him to want to spend time with the outcasts of society meant so much to them (even though they did not fully realize who it was they were visiting with) and it speaks volumes to us. Fellowship is one of the five main purposes of the church. Spending time with others is a powerful way to share the love and healing message of Jesus with others, no matter who they are or their background.
One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” I love it because through it the Lord gives us a sense of direction for who we are to be and what we are to be about. We are to love mercy and humility and these qualities were on full display when Jesus dined with sinners.
Romans 3:23 reveals that we are all sinners, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard of perfection. This means that we need a Savior, someone uniquely qualified to redeem us. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus and to experience this wonderful salvation, we must come to a place of humility where we can freely admit that we are sinners in need of Him. If we think we are righteous, then there is no need for us to change.
But if we know we are sinners and place our faith and trust in Jesus, He is faithful to forgive us of all our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and bless us with the power and strength of the Holy Spirit living within us to make good choices and lead lifestyles filled with His goodness, justice, mercy, humility and love. As John the Baptist urged, “bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” God has the power to bear good spiritual fruit through us as we are connected to the True Vine. He is the Vine and we are the branches.
“Lord Jesus, forgive us of our sins. We turn away from our selfish pride and turn to You for grace and truth. Open our eyes to those around us who need You. You are our Redeemer, Great Physician, Mighty Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and Soon-Coming King. May we look to You alone for our redemption, healing, power and hope. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. Only You are able to clothe us in robes of purest white. Wash us clean in Your blood. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.”
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
–Titus 3:3-7
[1] Psalm 8:4
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
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