Church notes 17th July 2016
17th
Eating with Tax Collectors
Luke 5: 27 -35
In Luke's Gospel
- Jesus is involved with meals. (He is going to, coming from, or participating in a meal.)
Despite Matthew's 'bad press' Jesus saw potential in him and worked to change the trajectory of his life.
Luke 5:27, 28
Matthew was following Jesus wholeheartedly.
1 Kings 11:4 - 6
Solomon failed to follwo the LORD completely.
Everyone has something holding them back.
It's not your ability God wants. It's your availability. Matthew made himself available. He walked away from his lifestyle.
We are to walk away from a lifestyle that consists of worldly desires.
He got Who Jesus Is immediately.
Luke 5:31
Jesus was being inclusive. The Pharisees were exclusive.
Luke 5:29
Matthew was enthusiastic for his friends to meet Jesus.
The attitude of the Pharisees is alive and well in our culture today.
Do you see your spouse as Jesus does?
Do you see the stranger in the grocery store as Jesus does?
Do you see the person who cut you off in traffic as Jesus does?
Do you see others as Jesus does?
Jesus at Matthew's banquet demonstrates that all people matter to God.
vs 33 - 35
A happy time while He was there.
Joy - the surest sense of God's presence
Jesus had a heart of acceptance
We also need to be accepting.