Dealings

Read Matthew 9:9-12

“...Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said,

 “it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

But go and learn what this means: 

‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 

For I have not come to call the righteous,

 but sinners.”

                                                                        Matthew 9: 10b-12

Our dealings with our fellow man will be judged by God. We are told very clearly not to judge anyone in Matthew 7:1. This I firmly believe is because of the great commission given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28.
We cannot reach a sinful world if we judge them. We cannot reach the sinner if we are unwilling to have a dialogue with them. It is impossible to win a soul to Christ if we are constantly closing doors to a group of people.
By yelling from the pulpit or in the media “your wrong and we are right” we are closing doors.
The Pharisees who were criticizing Jesus could never have shown the tax collector or sinner the way to heaven. They probably wouldn’t have gone near them. Even if they did the attitude they showed to the tax collector was so negative that they more than likely would have shunned them.
Yet the tax collector was in need of God.
We have to be so very careful with regards to how we treat people. The purpose of the gospel is to bring salvation to the world. To show God’s love.
Remember it is God who reached down to us sinners first. Showing his love toward us. Not us who reached up to God.
Quite often those who are sinning have no idea they are. Their concept of God is far from what the scriptures tell us. They are in sin and like it.
None Christians all to often see Christianity as a bunch of don’t. A life style that forbids them from doing what they like. They see no benefit in becoming a Christian.
It is therefore the job of the Christian to keep open the dialogue between themselves and the rest of the world. It is the only way we can convince them that the concept of Christianity they have is mistaken. That God offers more for them than the world could ever do.

Something to think about
Over the years I’ve heard of Christian workers in especially very large companies getting together at lunch breaks for a bible study. I think this is laudable. It makes a statement that they believe.
I myself have shunned away from such things.
A long time ago a pastor told me the best way to evangelize in the work place was not to hang around with Christians all day long but rather be yourself. Mingle with the other workers. Sit with them have coffee with them become their friend.
In doing so you open a dialogue between them and you. You gain their trust. Eventually doors will open and God will give you an opportunity to witness.
I’ve put this into practice over the years and found it to be so true.
Question:
How do you witness?