Text: Mark 2:13-22
Prayer Pointers: For those who are outcasts
To reach out to those outside our fellowship
“Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
When I first read this passage preparing for the devotion, I immediately thought of the outreach mission of our congregation. Where are we meeting sinners and people in need of the saving grace of God? Thus, I prayed for our Outreach team and pondered how I can better reach out to those around me who need to hear the Good News.
But as I considered this more, I realized that I was wrongly thinking of myself as the one that does not need to sit at the table with Jesus, as I’m already a member of a Christian congregation and saved. We are all sinners and need Jesus’ saving grace. Thus, we should approach those we view as “outcasts” not as superiors but as peers.
Thus, while we are reaching out to nonbelievers, we must also help new believers along the path of discipleship. But that is still not enough if we ignore our own walk with Christ and our own discipleship journey. We must not allow ourselves to become complacent in any of these endeavors. Thankfully, we are members of a community of believers and we can all help each other grow as Christians. What a blessing we have! Let us be thankful for this blessing and open our community to others!
~ Geoff Heintzelman
Lay Minister of Worship