Jesus Loves Us Where We’re At

“And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

  • Sometimes, the environment around me, causes so much stress I find myself looking for a way out. Negative attitudes, hate filled rhetoric, people not doing what I think they should, unmet expectations, and current circumstances that never seem to change.
  • It brings to my mind Psalm 55:6-8(NIV) which says, “…Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”” ‭‭
  • I have definitely felt this way at times, have you? The desire to escape the drama around me; the voices in my head that constantly taunt me; away from all the noise.
  • I start feeling a little bit like the prophet Habakkuk and find myself asking God why? Why do I need to go through this? Why do I have to listen to things that only bring me down? What is the point? What is Your purpose?
  • And then I felt led to this text in Scripture where Jesus had dinner with Levi(Matthew) the tax collector. Matthew had invited Jesus to his house for dinner, and several of his friends. Of course this upset the Pharisees, because Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners!
  • ‭ That’s when it hit me, Jesus loved people where they were at, He didn’t expect them to change for Him. He didn’t expect them to change the music they were listening to or curb the way they were talking, He allowed them to be themselves. ‭
  • He showed compassion to the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t condemn but He told her to go and sin no more.
  • With grace He helped the woman at the well to see the truth about herself then showed her a better way.
  • Even among His disciples. James and John He nicknamed “sons of thunder”, and Peter tended to be impulsive. 
  • But I think it was in being with Jesus; in feeling loved and accepted not condemned and judged that brought about the change of heart people experienced. 
  • So perhaps the lesson I need to learn is how to let those closest to me, just be who they are, no one ever changes by being “hit” over the head; learn to love as Jesus loved me. 
  • And to say , along with Habakkuk ( Mary paraphrase of course:) even though things don’t go my way, even though things don’t work out as I’d hoped, even though I question and don’t understand, even if I never see any change, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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