Read Mark 2:13-17. Key Verse: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners." (v. 17)
The bishop preaching last night, Bishop Larry Goodpaster, said that when the Bible talks about fishing, especially in the New Testament, is is net fishing. When Jesus calls the first disciples Jesus wanted them to keep fishing in that way but not for fish but for people. The bishop continued, "We, when we fish at all, is usually for one, and usually one that looks and acts like us." There is much truth in that. We usually try to find people just like them and try to win them for our church. We've already failed in that we're not about membership drives, we should be about relationship invitations. Ours is to call as many as we can into a living, loving relationship with God through Christ.
This passage dramatically demonstrates just that. Jesus called the least likely of those who should have been called. The call of Levi upset all those who knew him. Their quote tells it all, "Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?' What an interesting mix of people! The majority of the population at that time lumped the two together; it was as if saying, "Why eat with the worthless members of our society?"
It may be that in the eyes of someone, you and I are different to the point that we might have been seen as not belonging or worse, being worthless. But the message of God to all people is that we matter to God and God calls us through Christ to be a part of that relationship of love. What are we doing about it? How are we going to convince our churches to do some more net fishing?
PRAYER: Loving God, make us truly fishers of people, the net kind, that seek to reach all. Help us learn that we, like all, matter to You. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
