reaching out

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth.

"Follow me and be my disciple," Jesus said to him.

So Matthew got up and followed him.


10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests,

     along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.

11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples,

     "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?"


12 When Jesus heard this, he said,

     "Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do."

13 Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture:

     'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'

     For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."




How many of us intentionally seek out people who do not have a relationship with God through Jesus?

Or do we keep away from people like that?

Are most of the people we connect with Christ followers, or are they people who don't claim or seem to want anything to do with Him?

Are we afraid to be around people who don't follow Him?

Are we afraid people will think we are non-believers?

Or do we just not care?

And where would you & I be today if the people who were most influential in us choosing to follow Jesus had the same attitude toward non-believers as we do?




Matthew 9:35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom.

And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless,

     like sheep without a shepherd.

37 He said to his disciples,

     "The harvest is great,

      but the workers are few.

     38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest;

        ask him to send more workers into his fields."