Welcoming and healing
God doesn’t take life away; instead, he makes plans so those banished from him don’t stay that way. ~ 2 Samuel 14:14 (CEB)
But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. ~ Mark 2:16-17 (NLT)
Kind God, I'm grateful that you are not looking for ways to punish people -- to send them away. But you are actively helping those who are in need -- even if their need is caused by their sin. On the other hand, I've been known to act like a Pharisee. I get offended when I see you working with bad people. Help me to be open to the new things that you are doing. Help me so that I can become a welcoming and healing follower of Jesus. Amen.
CHALLENGING WORDS:
- banished -- sent away
- scum -- a really bad person who is worth nothing
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
