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!

Blessed are the Merciful
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Deeply ingrained in every human heart is a desire for justice. This is part of the image of God that has been imprinted on our nature, but because of sin, our desire for justice has been distorted. It now lurks inside us, keeping track of all the ways other people have offended us, and constantly demanding that they pay for what they’ve done. But rather than seeking revenge, Jesus said His followers should be quick to show mercy by forgiving the debts of others, even if they don’t deserve it. After all, God forgave us of all our sin, and we did nothing to deserve it!


