Sinners are afraid to go to church because they feel they don’t belong there which is all of us. We feel we have too many imperfections that God will never accept us. How wrong are we? During His ministry, Jesus was at ease and hopeful with those who are imperfect. He ate together with tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 9:10). His own disciples were fisherman, uneducated, unbelieving, rash in actions. He offered grace to the woman who was caught in adultery.
Even in His last hour as he hung on the cross, Jesus had conversation with a criminal and accepted Him to His kingdom right there and then. We confess that we are sinners and instead of feeling rejected, we should have hope and rely on Jesus that only He can save us. He is so willing to offer us forgiveness, mercy and grace if only we ask. Jesus loves those who realize that they are sinners and willing to change and no longer rely on themselves but only on Him, the savior.
However, Jesus is frustrated by dishonesty. He scolded and said harshest words for those who are religious upfront but rotten inside. Those who knows the bible and the laws front to back and act accordingly only in front of others but behind them, they are hypocrites and fake and liars.
This shed light into our hearts that we should be thankful that Jesus loves sinners and imperfect people. The only thing we have to do is to be honest with Him and confess all of our sins to Him. By mentioning all of our sins as it is: lust, anger, greed, hatred, gossip and so on, then we can experience cleansing, healing and restoration to our hearts and begin a better relationship with Him. We can start to live the way God intended us to live.
The goal is not to just confess our sins but turning our lives around, leaving our sinful nature behind and begin a new life. It can only happen by accepting Him, believe in Him, confess our sin and willingly led by the Spirit of God.
Put aside all of those fear of being rejected by God and the church. We as a body of Christ should welcome all with loving kindness that we have received from God. He loves us even when we were sinners. He came to save those who admit that they need God. He cannot help those who feel like they are righteous and don’t need Savior.
Matthew 9:12-13
Daily prayer
Lord I confess that I am a sinner and I welcome you into my life. I want to leave my old sinful nature life behind and live the way You want me to live. I will show Your loving kindness, Your mercy and Your grace to others the way You have shown me. Holy Spirit lead me. In the Name of Jesus I pray.
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