I Had a Dream (Part 2)

“And it happened that He was reclining at the table in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.

“When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, ‘Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?’

“And hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'” (Mar 2:15-17)

Journal,

The people who Jesus was eating with were considered the very dregs of society. The word ‘sinner’ as used by the scribes and Pharisees was especially used for people who refused to follow the laws of Moses as set forth by the scribes. Sinners were considered evil people. This group included the adulterer, tax collector, and robber. The sinners were seen as outcasts and were expelled from the synagogue.

As I was reading the above Scriptures this morning during my devotion, they triggered a memory from our recent trip to Mexico. Here is what happened.

‘You know me – I know you.’

We were sharing a meal with Brother Pedro and others from his church. It was hosted by one of the members. There were about ten of us seated around the table. My attention became drawn to a man who was seated away from the table. I noticed how he kept staring at me. Finally he said, ‘You know me – I know you!’

Everything became quiet. He kept right on insisting that he had met me before. To my knowledge I had never met him. He persisted.

What I didn’t know was that we was recently out of prison. (Or jail.) And that he was an alcoholic. I asked him to come sit by me. Nathan was doing the interpreting. The more we talked, the more he insisted on the story that I knew him and that I had called him to repentance in a gospel meeting.

It gets more intriguing – He went on to say that this happened in Juarez, Mexico. Actually the only time I’ve been in Juarez, was in 1969, when Betty and I left our car in storage and traveled by bus to Mexico City. But I had not been in any kind of gospel meeting. (I did hold revivals in west Texas.) Finally he agreed that it must have been a dream, but that it was so real.

I spent an hour talking and praying with him. He ask me if I would teach him. Of course under the circumstances this wasn’t possible, but I did speak to him about Pedro’s church. (I’ll not use his name since some of my Mexico readers will likely recognize who I am talking about.) All this took place on Saturday evening. The man told someone he would be church the next morning. Sadly enough, he did not show up.

And here is where I am asking my readers for a special favor. This gentleman remains on my heart. I am asking my readers to please pray for him. I wish I could share his name, but all I can say is that the Lord knows who he is. I firmly believe that the Lord is calling him into His kingdom but the enemy will do everything in his power to keep this from happening. When you pray, just use the name Mr. “L”. (He has a Biblical name that begins with an L.)

Why is this story so important? It is important because we must take care to never fall into the pattern of the scribes and Pharisees.

I heard so many wonderful testimonies while in Mexico. Here is another one that should drive the point home.

A Sinner Saved by Grace

I am reluctant to share names simply because I am drawing on memories. I don’t want to share anything that may not be totally correct. In any event, here is another story that must be told. It is how I remember it.

This dear lady shared how her husband had been a drunkard. He went on binges and would be found in the streets. His pants were soiled in the worse measure. (Excrement, etc.) Someone would bring him home.

His wife was so tired of this horrible life. She had enough. Then it happened again. His pants were so soiled that she was about to throw them away. This is when the Lord spoke to her heart not to throw them away, but to wash them. (Keep in mind that she would have to do this by hand.)

When she asked the Lord, ‘Why?’ He said, “Because this was how I found you.”

Did you get the point?

But that isn’t the end of the story. Her husband asked her why she had washed his clothing. She told him what the Lord had said. Out of this story came a changed man. 

Did he turn to the Lord? Yes he did. He is a Christian today.

 

Let me leave a few thoughts with you about the gospel. The gospel is not about condemnation. It is about a Savior that loved this dying world so much that He gave His life for the very dregs of humanity. (That takes in all of us.)

Listen to…

God’s Love Never Fails

The great mystery of the Christian faith is really the mystery of God’s love. He loved us before we ever knew Him. He never stops loving us.

When Paul said that nothing can separate us from the love of God, he may have reflected off of something the prophet said. The prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse into the very heart of God. The Lord said,

“Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will never forget you.” (Isa49:15)

Notice that the Lord said His love far exceeds the love that a mother has for her nursing child. There is no greater picture of love than that of a mother for her child.

But what is it about God’s love that is so incomprehensible? We know the answer to that. God’s love is not static. His love surrounds us. God’s love reaches into our pits and draws us out. God’s love never fails.

How often have we been ashamed of a misdeed, wondering how God could ever love us still, and yet, in our turning to Him, we found Him ever there.

A good example is with the prophet Micah. After dealing with issues of judgments, the prophet writes,

“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love … You will give truth to Jacob and unchanging love to Abraham…” (Micah 7:18-20)

Unchanging love is the catch phrase.

And so the gospel is actually the greatest love story ever told. This is why Christians sing love songs to Jesus. We sing love songs to the Father. We sing of His love to us.

But why? After all, you don’t hear Muslims singing, ‘Mohammed, lover of my soul.’

It is summed up in the cry of the human heart. This cry can only be met in an meet with Jesus Christ.

So we ask, ‘How much do you love us, Jesus.’ He stretches out His arms, and says, ‘This much.’

Yes, He loves us to the end.

Please my friends – Don’t give up on anyone.

Here is your song of meditation. It is titled, ‘Your Love Never Fails.’ (Spanish subtitles for my Spanish readers.)

Your friend in Christ always,

Buddy

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