At the hospital

I am blogging today from the hospital. My wife was just delivered from recovery to her room about a half hour ago. The doctor said that the surgery went really well. Praise God! Thanks to all who were praying.

I really don't like hospitals....but having wireless internet helps!

Being at the hospital reminds me of Christ's mission....and ours as well! Jesus was known for hanging out with the "notorious sinners" of his time. The pharisees didn't like this at all or understand it. But in Matthew, Jesus explains it pretty well.

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice. 'For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 9:11-13NIV

I think it is interesting that the Pharisees asked the disciples why Jesus hung out with these people and didn't ask Jesus directly. I think we would classify this behavior today as "passive aggressive" for sure! But I think that the Pharisees were cowards! Jesus had put them in their place before so I believe they thought they would pick on the weaker disciples....thinking for sure that he would confuse them and cause them to question the authority of their Savior. Of course we don't know what would have happened if the disciples had answered, because Jesus beat them to it.

We have got to remember this passage! This verse for me, really defines my mission and maybe yours too. Churches today are filled with "righteous" people ministering to "righteous" people, calling other "righteous" people. A big holy huddle that is doing nothing to further the Kingdom of God.....it is so inward focused it makes me sick! I am so blessed that I found a Church with a heart for the lost....because it is not healthy people that need a doctor....it is sick people. And it isn't righteous people who need a Savior, it's sinners like me and you!