PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 15:1-7

What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2)
The religious leaders raise this as a criticism of Jesus.
But based on Jesus’s response, I can hear him saying ‘thank you!’
Jesus uses the shepherd parable to explain his intense zeal for people.
He is especially concerned about the lost, the least and the left out.
Have I ever been accused by religious peers or powers of being too gracious?
What would it take for me to be seen as being too close to “sinners”?
Who are the “sinners” that our religious communities are struggling with?
Am I – are we – being seen as too welcoming, too accepting, too open?
And is that an insult, or is it an indication we’re working with Jesus?
We set up our church bubbles to help us, but do they end up hindering us?
Though our signs may say ‘all are welcome’, we’re more a safe place for the 99.
What if we were known as the church that “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2)
Better that than be accused by Jesus of not welcoming sinners and not eating with them.
I’d rather rejoice with Jesus and the angels than eat with the unwelcoming complainers.
PRAYER
Lord, show me what to do to be accused of being too welcoming and too gracious, and give me the intense zeal to do it!