WHEN THEY COME
Today's reading: Joshua 19:17-21:42, Luke 15:1-10, Psalm 72:1-11

"Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach." Luke 15:1 NLT

You can question why they came...

-Did their mommas nag them?
-Did they think attending might release them from conviction?
-Had they made someone a promise?
-Were they searching for something--anything?
-Had they hit rock bottom?

Maybe you questioned some of the folks who showed up Easter Sunday in your church house.

-You hadn't seen them since last Easter, okay, well, maybe Christmas?
-They only come when a meal is being served?
-Their wives were tickled to have them sitting on the pew with them?
-They wore 'church clothes' reserved for the once a year they come, or for a funeral?

But they were there.

And if your church is anything like mine, and I sure hope it is, they heard the Gospel presented.

So maybe their lives didn't change.

Or they didn't go down to the altar.

Or they weren't baptized as a public acknowledgement of Jesus coming into their lives.

But they were there.

And a seed was planted.

And for a brief time, however long your services lasted, you had the opportunity to love on them while your music minister and pastor spoke words of truth into their hearts.

The 'tax collectors and notorious sinners' visit churches often, but if you are busy seeing them as 'needing to be there', you, friend, might need to spend some more time at the altar yourself.

Welcome them.

Love them.

Receive them with open arms.

And let Jesus change them...how He chooses...when He chooses...in ways He chooses.