When you think of “sinners” who might be excluded from God’s kingdom, does anyone come to mind? If so, you may be entering dangerous territory. The Pharisees were certain of their own seat at God’s table, convinced that the tax collectors and prostitutes had no such place. But Jesus came precisely for the people the religious crowd wrote off. He welcomes the broken, the fallen, the forgotten with open arms the moment they repent and turn to Him. God’s grace reaches farther than our judgments, and we may be surprised by those who are on heaven’s guest list!

Lord, Teach Us To Pray
The disciples had grown up hearing scripted prayers that were memorized and recited repeatedly, but when they heard Jesus pray, their hearts were stirred and they knew He was connecting to God in a way they never had. So they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In the response Jesus gave them, we can gain a right understanding of how to approach God, and we can truly learn how to pray.


