Apr. 19- NDS- Friend of Flops

Next Door Savior by Max Lucado

"Friend of Flops"- Matthew 9:19-13

For most of us raised in the church, the story of Matthew is not new.  He was a public tax collector.  A Roman lap dog used to cheat the Jewish people out of their hard-earned money.  Matthew was a despised figure among the Jewish population.  Yet, Jesus saw something in Matthew.  Something that made him worthy of being one of the select twelve to help Jesus with His earthly ministry.  We would do well to look at person's potential rather than a person's position.

As I was reading the section from Matthew that accompanies today's chapter, I was struck by the second half of verse 11 "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  I wondered if sometimes today's church has this backwards.  We think that we do well if we get the "sinners" to eat with us.  We invite them to church.  Have outreach programs.  Offer concerts at church as an opportunity to invite our unchurched friends.  


But, verse 11 reminds us that Jesus did not invite Matthew's friends to a potluck dinner in the church basement.  No, Jesus was "eating with tax collectors and sinners" at a former sinner's house.  A subtle difference, but an important one.  Perhaps a backyard bar-b-que should replace (or at least accompany) an Easter Sunday church invitation.  Maybe a night of cards and iced tea has a greater evangelism quotient than three free tickets to the Heygoods Concert.  Hmmmm. . . .