No One Is Ever Good Enough
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
-- Matthew 9:10-13
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.” -- Hosea 6:6
A woman I’ve known for more than 30 years grew up attending a neighborhood church. She has all the answers. Just ask her. She doesn’t need to talk about the Bible or religion of faith. And she doesn’t. Why waste time on what she already knows when she could be gathering gossip on something she doesn’t know?
Yeah. That’s right. She’s also the neighborhood gossip. And judge.
It’s not that she’s a bad person. She isn’t. She’s done many wonderful things for others over the years. She also did an admirable job of caring for her husband as he lay dying. She’s in church most Sundays and even on Wednesday nights as well. She does everything right on the outside. But what about the inside?
I always wonder when folks know too much to keep learning about Jesus. I realize that group Bible study isn’t for everyone but I can’t imagine not wanting to read and study the Bible for as long as I can. I want to grow closer to God, not assume I’m close enough already.
It always comes back to relationship. I want to have a relationship with God. I am His child and I want to know Him in all things. I can’t understand why anyone would want to keep Him at a distance. In His place, so to speak. Because His place is everywhere in my life.
She knows all the right answers. She grew up memorizing the little songs and books of the Bible. But sometimes I wonder about her heart. Because faith is a heart thing or it isn’t faith at all.
She’s so quick to look down at others who don’t have all the answers. She doesn’t bother looking in the mirror because she assumes she’s already good enough. I don’t want to ever be like that. I don’t want to ever think I’m better than others and I don’t want to ever assume I’m good enough.
I want to always remember what Jesus did for me. I want to forever understand God’s mercy and kindness that I could never deserve. But He loves me anyway. He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me. My God. My Father. My Creator.
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