Jesus’ most memorable story, The Prodigal Son, ends with a banquet scene, featuring as its hero a good-for-nothing who has soiled the family reputation. Those judged undesirable by everyone else—like the prodigal son—are infinitely desirable to God. When one of them turns to God, a party breaks out (Luke 15:22-24).
In the Old Testament, levitical laws guarded against contagion. Among the things that would contaminate a person were contact with certain animals, carcasses, or the sick. But Jesus reversed the process. Rather than becoming contaminated by what was unclean, He made the unclean whole.
I sense in Jesus a fulfillment, not an abolition, of the Old Testament laws. God had hallowed creation by separating the sacred from the profane, the clean from the unclean. Jesus did not cancel out this hallowing principle; rather He changed its source.
Because of God’s great grace, we can be agents of His holiness, for He now dwells within us. We can seek, as Jesus did, for ways to be a source of holiness. The sick and the maimed are not hot spots of contamination but potential reservoirs of God’s mercy. We are called to extend that mercy, to be conveyers of grace, not avoiders of contagion. Like Jesus, we can help make the “unclean” clean. — Philip Yancey
For Further Study
According to Philippians 2:14, how should we “do all things”? What is the result for us, and what does that mean for our world? (v.15).
No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
Taken from Our Daily Bread
3 comments:
Sorry Guys, this was the time i actully got home and had time to post =\
This devo is a pretty good reminder of evangelism.
Jon
this devo really brings into mind the complete change that one's lifestyle goes through when becoming a Christian. A lot of times we just stick to ourselves and look down or frown upon those that are not as fortunate or uncomfortable to be around or (insert excuse here).
who do we hang out with, who do we minister to?
Are you really showing God's love?
-jacky
as i look back on the person i used to be before knowing God.. i don't regret not knowing Him sooner but the change in the person who i am now. it's just such a big blessing and sometimes we have to go out and tell others cause they may have no other chance to hear the good news. (reminded last night by theresa during coffee thing)so think about that.. what if you're the hope for the person you sit beside today in class or at work or at lunch..
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