Daily Devotion, March 2, 2022

 

Devotion:

Read Luke 5:27-31. (The Message)

Eugene Peterson’s The Message sums up this part of the chapter with, “Invitation To A Changed Life.” Prior to Levi’s story are the stories of Jesus’ healing of two others. The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law do not understand Jesus’ way of giving a changed life for each of these three. Overall, they didn’t believe these three “outsiders” merited a changed life.

The Message continues, “Jesus heard about it and spoke up, ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting outsiders, not insiders---an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out.’”

Both in biblical times and now, people are perceived as sinners or saints. But the Bible is clear that we have ALL sinned, as is written in Romans 3:23,…“all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” So Jesus calls us all to repent of our ways by turning all aspects of our lives toward God.

Today is Ash Wednesday, it is time for us to re-examine our ways and our lives.

The opportunity for repentance is a gift from God. Repentance has been described as a 180 degree turn. It is a process of seeing where we have left the ways of Christ to go our own way and we hear God’s beckoning to turn to follow in the footsteps of Christ’s way again. Christ’s way is the way which leads to life! A changed life, changed inside and out!

Jesus gave healing for the man with leprosy. He was considered an outsider. Jesus gave healing for the one who was paralyzed by declaring his sins forgiven and by instructing him to, “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” During Jesus’ times, the people thought disease and injury were punishments from God. And Jesus invited Levi, the tax-collector to follow him! Tax-collectors were definitely considered outcasts! But Jesus included him into this new changed life!

Maybe we consider ourselves “outsiders”, but God’s grace and forgiving power is offered to all and sufficient for all. This is great news that God’s invitation for new life in Christ includes you and me, and all people!

Personal Worship Option:

Loving, gracious and merciful God. Thank you for including us and inviting us into a changed life, both inside and out! Work within our hearts to repent, to turn and follow in the ways of Christ! Amen.