A God Thing

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. "Follow Me", He said to him. And he got up and followed Him. As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard this, He said, "Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do." (Matthew 9:9-12)

A young lady recently asked a pastor, "What are we doing to engage or welcome the practicing homosexual if he or she comes into our church and wants to join?" What the pastor replied was on point. Basically his response was that anyone wanting to join and bible-believing church will have been moved by the Spirit of God to come confessing and repentant, understanding to desire to be saved is to admit to sin and the need for a Savior. 

You see, when Jesus called Matthew, Matthew "followed". He did not come questioning or debating. He followed and then invited Jesus into his circles so others could hear Him. He left his previous life behind and followed the ways of Christ. 

The key to reaching sinners, any sinners, is to engage them, invite them, be hospitable to them. Jesus simply asked and Matthew followed. Two things here: We must reach out and the sinner must react. Both are led by the Spirit. You see, it's not a me and you thing or a we and them thing, but a God thing!

You see,