Matthew 9:10-13 — And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Perhaps the devotions of the last two days have been a bit abstract, a bit far from daily life. If so, perhaps today’s will be a bit more “down to earth”. It’s inspired by something in one of the devotions Myra and I use every morning. Oswald Chamber’s “Devotions For A Deeper Life” can be a bit dour, even a bit harsh, but today’s reading sounded a beautifully compassionate note:

If our religion is only one of sunshine for the healthy-minded, it is no good, because many people throughout the world are not capable of enjoying sunshine. …
… But the wonder of our Lord Jesus Christ is just this: You can confront Him with any kind of person you like — no matter how wan and dejected — and He can put that person into a right relationship with God.

This is an amazing truth, and a key to understanding the nature of the Christian Church. All too often people on the outside believe that “goodness” is some kind of qualification for church membership. Sadly, some churchgoers even seem to agree with them — but nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus Himself made it clear.
This is a great encouragement to me. I wonder what sort of Christian you are? Are you the kind that is always full of peace and joy — living, as it were, always enjoying the sunshine? Are you the kind that always seems to be being rained on — always struggling, always falling, never feeling the sun? Or maybe you a Christian like me — generally sunny, but with occasional showers?
In His church Jesus lays a table and issues an invitation to dine with Him. Who does He invite? Not those who are secure, like the Pharisees, in their own “righteousness”. No, He invites “the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.” (Luke 14:21 KJVA). The position is nicely stated in a quotation whose origin is hard to trace but which was certainly used by Abigail Van Buren (“Dear Abby”) in a 1964 column: “The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”
Isn’t it wonderful? No matter who you are, or what you’ve done, the doors are open!