Lent Devotion Daily Guide – March 15, 2022

Nobody is beyond God’s love! This week we are thinking about sharing God’s love with others through our words and actions. But who are the “others” we are called to share God’s love with? In Luke 15:1-2 the actions of Jesus show us who is beyond God’s love, Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The tax collectors of the day were largely viewed as outcasts. Not only did these tax collectors work for the Roman government, they also were corrupt. Most tax collectors used their authority to steal extra money from individuals in Israel. Prison and violence were common tools tax collectors used to extort money from the people in their communities. The tax collectors were violent oppressors, nobody liked them, and nobody thought they deserved God’s love. As a Rabbi, people would have known Jesus had a special relationship with God. When Jesus chose to eat and befriend tax collectors, Jesus was showing them God’s love. The Pharisees and scribes were offended that these evil tax collectors were being offered the opportunity to grow closer to God. Today, many of us accidently view some people as beyond God’s. It is important for each of us to take some time and think about who we view as outcasts. I encourage you today to spend some time praying for a person you may think is beyond God’s love. I encourage you to pray that he/she may truly experience the grace of Jesus.

~ Pastor Adam Ricks