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!

Saved and Sent
It is a sad commentary indeed that so many church members today actually believe the church exists for them — to entertain them and their children every Sunday and to provide endless activities. The very fact that so many people believe this is proof that the church has lost its way and abandoned the mission given to it by Jesus. We have not been saved to huddle together happily in our well-lit room while the darkness outside grows ever darker. We have been saved and sent!


