Daily Devotion for March 3, 2025

Devotion:

For an audio version of this devotion, click here.

Read Mark 2:13-17.

This scene takes place in Capernaum, in the early part of Jesus’ ministry, soon after his baptism. After calling Levi (Matthew), a tax collector to follow him as a disciple, Jesus accepted his invitation to dinner in Levi’s home. What kind of people would hang out with a tax collector? Other tax collectors and sinners would be in his company and therefore having dinner that night with Jesus. Hearing the criticism of the religious people about his keeping company with sinners, Jesus responded that it was to the sinners that he had been sent.

We 21st Century church people need to hear this!  Why were so many tax collectors and sinners following Jesus? Perhaps they saw hope in his teachings for something beyond their lives on earth. Perhaps also, he made them feel welcome and even loved…something that would have been new and different for them. We Christians tend to turn inward in our churches, caring for one another and losing our focus on those outside the church.  We need more friends who are lost sinners, needing to be welcomed and loved and offered the hope and promise of the Good News of Christ. 

Personal Worship Option:

Think for a moment about how you could encounter more people who do not know Christ. Would it hurt your reputation to hang out with them? Take a chance, go for it, and be like Christ! Most of us struggle with this, but we must relearn this lesson from Jesus.