more-religious-than-thou

Good morning dear strugglers. If you got it all together then I don’t have a lot to say. I don’t think I have ever been on that level. It must be nice. I have been a born-again believer following Christ Jesus for a long time but I still remember what it was like B. C. (before Christ). I had an opinion of others and they definitely had opinions of me. You might say I fit in to the “Shady Character” column. I made some shaky decisions and I am not speaking of health. 

In my devotion time this morning God took me to a party. It is found in Matthew 9:9-13. Boy can I identify with this story. It seems like Jesus ran into the local IRS agent and invited him to follow Him and become a disciple. Matthew was considered an outcast because of his choice of vocations. His name was constantly left of the invitation list. He was a shady character making shaky deals under the table. But Jesus went right up to him and said Hey Levi follow me. Levi was what his mommy named him. I guess she had higher expectations for his life than he did. Anyway, he closed up shop and begin to follow our LORD. 

But the story is not over. He decide to throw a going away party to tell his shady friends goodbye. He did and they came. These characters were not ones you would expect to attend the Clergy Convention at the Baptist Building. Not only were his friends there but the disciples were there as well. They were having a good old “good-bye” time and in walked trouble. The more-religious-than-thou group raided the party. They were not invited but they felt it was their responsibility to point out that Jesus made a mistake by hanging out with this riff-raff. Why are you at this party, Jesus? You should know better! Jesus, as the Great Physician that He is, gives them the diagnoses for their self-righteous disease. It is the sick that need the doctor. They want to get well. You guys don’t see the filth in your own life cause you are all leathered up on the outside.

Yes, I was a constant at those parties when Christ Jesus pulled me aside and said aren’t you tired of this life? Wouldn’t you like a better life from this day forward? I said YES and from that time the only SHADY part of my life is sitting under the shade of the love of the LORD Jesus. I get along with those who are out in the world struggling just to get through the day a lot better than those sitting in a luxury suite looking down on people. 

Enjoy your day and if you see someone like me, why don’t you stop and say Hi and invite the “MEs” for a glass of tea. That would be such a blessing.