".........For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Matthew 9:13b
In the 9th chapter of Matthew, Jesus encounters many wounded and broken people. They all had 3 things in common. They were all sinners desperate to be touched by Jesus, they all had faith that Jesus would make them whole, they were all healed of their infirmities. These people, the wounded, the sick, the blind were all outcasts of society. Those that professed to be godly would turn their noses up as they passed by these people on the streets because in their twisted thinking, these people were sinners and deserving of the "judgement" that was upon them. While those godly people passed by in judgement, Jesus stopped and ministered, praised their faith and made them whole. If the King of the universe would stop and minister to the untouchable why did those that claimed to love God mock and look down upon them?
What can we learn from the acts of our Savior? Can you identify with the "godly people" from the time of Jesus? What is our reaction when we see a homeless person? Do we think, "they made themselves this way, they are drug addicts and can't be helped." Do we, like the Pharisees turn our noses up and pass by? What would Jesus' reaction be? What is our reaction to the elderly in nursing homes, the mentally handicapped, the incarcerated, the foster children, the uneducated, the unemployed, those with physical disability and terminal diseases? Are they touchable? Would Jesus pass them by?
You may think, " What can I do, their situation is hopeless." Is it? What has Jesus given you and what can you do to show them the way to the only One who could make them whole? Here a few things that you as a child of God could do.
1. Listen to their story, many people are lonely and need a listening ear.
2. Pray for them
3. Share the hope of Jesus
4. Put your words into action, feed them, write a letter, visit, tutor, hangout...ask the Lord what He wants you to do in His name.