Bible Readings and Devotion for September 2, 2020
Here are the references for the readings. Please look these up in your print Bible, your smartphone app Bible, or your online Bible:
Devotion for September 2, 2020
By Pastor David Tinker
There is something which is the fault of various people. I don’t need to point fingers at anybody on this. The messed-up thing is this: somehow people perceive that they must be perfect, or at least better than others, to become a Christian. There is a misguided idea that you must have it all together to be one of God’s children through Jesus Christ. Some feel that you must be without sin to be welcomed into the fellowship of believers. Based on God’s Word, especially today’s reading from Luke 5, this is most certainly not true.
In Luke we have the calling of Matthew Levi. He was a sinful tax collector. He had been in league with the hated Romans. That didn’t matter to Jesus, and he called Matthew Levin to be a Disciple anyway. This action by Jesus was not received well by the Pharisees. We read in verses 30-32, the interaction of Jesus and the Pharisees: “The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.””
It wasn’t about being good enough for God back then, and today that same policy is to be followed. God calls sinners to repentance. He calls messy, confused, angry, immoral, amoral, abused, abuser, and so much more to stop doing the wrong, and to get back on track with God and his loving ways of the world.
Today is the day to get back on track with the Lord. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, last year, or even 10 minutes ago that was wrong. What is most important now is to know is that God loves you beyond measure. God has given himself in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sin. God loves you so much that he is daily seeking you out, for his greatest desire is life for and fellowship with his beloved people – the human race. When we receive his amazing love and forgiveness, we have everything we need to be reconciled to God and his people. Life with Jesus is never about being good enough. It is about God’s love for us now, when we need it most.
Prayer
Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, you turn us from the old life of sin. Grant that we who are reborn to new life in him may live in righteousness and holiness all our days, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
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