When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus demonstrated that He was interested in reaching out to people who really needed Him. He cared about everyone and he was not about to let the religious appearance of ‘holiness’ keep Him from rubbing shoulders with the very people He came to redeem.

We must be willing to mix with the world and spend time with people who have yet to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I have said it often to the people I pastor: “that for some of the people you meet – the only Jesus they’ll ever come in contact with may be the Jesus they see in you!”

I know I need to spend more time with people who are still searching for the truth that is only found in Jesus Christ. We are all seeking for what will fulfill and make us content. Most people don’t realize that the highest place of fulfillment and contentment is found in a personal relationship with Jesus.

I am reminded by this scripture that if Jesus were here on earth in physical form, he’d be spending a fair amount of time with people who have yet to respond to Him. I know if I want to be like Christ, I need to be intentional about spending more time with people in the world. A lot of my time has to do with pastoring people and preparation for teaching the Word. But I need to carve out time and look for opportunities to rub shoulders with people who still need Him.

Lord Jesus, help me to be more like You in reaching out to those You are seeking and saving. Help me to see those opportunities You have for me to rub shoulders with people in the world. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me your passion for people. I set my heart to be intentional about reaching out to form new friendships with people who don’t know You.