When Jesus dwelled among us it caught everyone by surprise because even though he was considered a religious person he spent very little time with religious people. Even though he was a just man he spent very little time with righteous people. When Jesus dwelled among us, people who did not consider themselves religious, righteous or good loved spending time with him. Even though they knew they would never be like him, they never felt uncomfortable around him. People (sinners) who had nothing in common with him came in multitudes to see and listen to him. What is even more surprising is that Jesus loved spending time with them too.

The religious people could not understand Jesus. They could not understand why he was attracted to non-religious people. They could not understand why he was attracted to sinners. They religious people would say; “If he comes from God, why dose he spend so much time with sinners and so little time with us?” They did not understand him and many people today still do not understand him. Do you? Let me ask you the following questions:

· Why do you think Jesus felt attracted to people who were nothing like him?
· Why did people who were nothing like him feel attracted to him?
· Why was it that people who had nothing in common with him came to listen to him by the multitudes?
· Why did this bother the religious people?
· Why weren’t the religious people attracted to him in the same way?

Mateo 9:10-13 NIV

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Let me ask a few more questions:

· Are you attracted to sinners in the same manner that Jesus was?
· Are sinners attracted to you in the same manner in which they were attracted to Jesus?
· Do you feel the same way God does?

It’s simple, sinners are what is most important to God.

Heavenly Father, may I never forget that at one time I was far from you and because of someone else’s love and compassion I came to know you. Lord give me more opportunities to reach out to those who are far from you. I know that is your will.