“Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:29-32)

     When Levi hosted his dinner of “tax collectors and sinners,” the Pharisees complained that someone like Jesus shouldn’t be spending time with those kinds of people.  But this is something we might ask, “how else would Jesus be able to meet with these folks?  Were they going to come to him?” On some occasions, they would, but oftentimes he would have to meet them where they were at.

     The same should apply to us.  The church should not be a building which caters to those who belong to an exclusive “club.” We can open our doors to everyone, letting them know that they are welcome to join us, but it doesn't stop there.  We can be “in the world, but not of the world” as we expose who we are to all people, including people who need Jesus.  When you think about it, it’s not hard to do; just be yourself, a forgiven sinner, letting others know what Jesus means to you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to be an effective witness for you.  Give me the words to say regarding how much you mean to me.  Help me to plant seeds of faith in those who still need you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.