"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" . . . A Lenten Devotion

"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" (Matthew 9:11)

Jesus came to earth, lived and died for all people.  However, there were some of his day such as the religious leaders that didn't accept him.  Jesus chose to eat and and associate with 'sinners'.  Primarily because that was the group that recognized their need for a savior and  was willing to follow him.  The ironic part of all of this is that all people are 'sinners'.  However, some chose to put themselves on a pedestal beyond the need of a savior. 

We all do that to some extent from time to time.  We forget that we are human and naturally sin in our everyday lives.  We forget that we are all in need of a savior.  We forget that God offers us his free gift of grace and mercy and that we NEED that in our lives.  We need God's forgiveness and love.  We need a relationship with our creator and sustainer. 

And so God loves us anyway . . . he loves us though we sin, though we forget and though we judge other's sin greater than our own.  God loves us so much that he's willing to reach out to us even when our reach is not towards him.