Jesus is for Losers

"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

Do you see yourself as sick or well? Do you need a spiritual doctor? We're so good at convincing ourselves and the world around us that everything is fine. Yes, my life is fine, my family is fine, my marriage is fine, my kids are fine, my job is fine. No problems. I don't need anything from you or anyone else, especially God. Jesus is just a crutch for those who can't handle life on their own.

Well, guess what. None of us can really handle life on our own if we're truly honest with ourselves. Our pride insists that we can do it all just fine. We can figure it out alone. And if you're not at the place where you realize that you don't have things all figured out, beware because God has very effective ways of getting you there quickly. Not to be mean, but because sometimes we need to be made aware of our need in order to come to Him and find true joy.

The crux of the issue is that we all sin. We all fall short of God's glory - His perfection. Big things, little things, we all do it. And the "but I'm really a good person" just doesn't cut it.

The Pharisees were good people and Jesus tore them up one side and down the other. They followed all the rules, plus lots more. And they had a lot of rules to follow - over 600! But they missed the point. They focused on the outward stuff and ignored the inner stuff. God cares about the inside.

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.' But I [Jesus] tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement." Matthew 5:21-22a

Been angry? Oops.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Matthew 5:27-28 Ladies, this goes for you, too. Have you gazed too long at the cute UPS guy? That co-worker? Oops.

James 2:10 "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." Whoa. Suffice it to say that we're all in deep doo-doo, no matter how 'good' of a person we think we've been.

So what's the out? "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

OK, so we work hard enough at being a good person from now on and Jesus will take care of it all for us, right?

No.

It doesn't say "...whoever tries hard enough and goes to church every Sunday will not perish but have eternal life." It says BELIEVE.

"For by grace [free gift] you have been saved, through faith. It is not of ourselves, it is a gift from God. NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS SO THAT NO ONE SHOULD BOAST." Ephesians 2:10, emphasis mine

Being a good person has nothing to do with it, folks. Jesus is for losers - people who will have the humility to admit that they can't do this thing called life on their own. Losers who admit that they sin and that being a good person doesn't fix it. And don't get too excited about how humble you are, because that would be pride and then you'd be back where you started. :)

Are you a loser?