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\ / WHAT JESUS DID! -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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Saturday, April 18, 2009
Sinners
"I will tell you something. Go and learn what it means: 'I
don't want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to
people.' I did not come to invite good people. I came to
invite sinners."
-- Matthew 9:13 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
God has never wanted to condemn. That has never been his purpose. His
Old Testament Laws were meant to distinguish the Israelites as his
people and preserve them from spiritual and physical harm. When people
rebel, rather than looking forward to punishing them for their sin, God
grieves over the rebellious child. He yearns to bring restoration. When
Jesus comes as Immanuel, he teaches and shows that God seriously cares
about reaching and redeeming rebellious sinners. Incredibly, both Jesus
and John the Baptist have more success with those who are in outright
rebellion than with those who have been inoculated by their legalistic
religious debates. Jesus came to the lost, the broken and the least, to
save, mend, and make first.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Loving and merciful Heavenly Father, give me a heart of concern for
those who around me are lost. I am convicted today of your gracious
love and sacrificial concern for those who are caught in sin. Please
use me as an instrument to give them hope and bring them to you. In
Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
>> available as a book. Click below to order!
http://images.ultracart.com/aff/ACU9/1414/108/185/575/0/index.html
>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0418-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+9:13&sr=1&t=erv
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