Have you ever heard the saying, “people don’t care what you know, until they know how much you care?” Jesus modeled this axiom by regularly challenging the expectations of the religious elite by eating and interacting with sinners and tax collectors. And in doing so, Jesus drew these untouchables to Himself; His identification with them was that which touched their hearts and ultimately drew them towards repentance.
The Mission of God is found in God’s doing this for each one of us. No one deserves the grace of God, and yet in our rebellion He goes out to us, to draw us to Himself.
The challenge for the Christian and the modern missionary is found in adopting this same conviction to “go out” and identify with the lost, such that we might save some. Today we examine this principle as found in 1 Corinthians 9, as the Apostle Paul describes his conviction to “become all things to all men” so as to save some!
John 20:21
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Luke 5:30-32
“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 15:1-3
“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”