Verse: Matthew 11:18-19
“For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Devotion:
Ok, maybe you’re a little bit like me and had to read these verses over and over again to even start thinking about the meaning. Let’s break it down together. For context, Jesus is highlighting the contrasting responses to two significant figures in the unfolding story of the Gospel: John the Baptist and Himself. John, who lived a life devoted to his mission and abstaining from worldly pleasures, was criticized for being too extreme. Meanwhile Jesus, who embraced life and community, faced accusations of indulgence. As a sidebar, doesn’t this feel so relatable? Have you ever felt like you’re in a lose lose situation and people will think what they want anyway? I find it comforting to know this feeling isn’t new, even Jesus knew what that felt like. But- more importantly this dichotomy is included to invite us to reflect on how easily we can misinterpret the work of God based on our own biases and expectations.
Jesus’ ministry was so different because it was characterized by His willingness to engage with those marginalized by society—tax collectors, sinners, and outcasts. He spent His time with the people whom others considered the worst of the worst. He embodied the grace of God, showing us that His love knows no bounds and does not exclude anyone. Yet, those who were entrenched in their ways could not accept His radical inclusivity. Instead of recognizing the wisdom in His approach, they chose to label Him in ways that suited their preconceived notions. They judged His involvement with them and missed out on the radical, life changing grace that He offers us.
As followers of Christ, we are called to discern and embrace the diverse ways in which God works in our lives and communities. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of judging others, but we have to guard against the temptation to judge others based on human standards or to impose our own expectations on how God should operate. There’s a reason He’s the one in charge, not us. We can’t limit Him to our human understanding of the world. Instead, let us seek to more deeply understand the heart of God, which is always about love, compassion, and connection.
This puts me outside of my comfort zone when I sit and think about it. I don’t like to be uncomfortable and I certainly don’t seek out opportunities to push myself outside of my comfort zone in order to look more like Him. Take a moment to be still and reflect how you might be responding to God’s work in your life or in the lives of those around you. Are there areas where you might be holding onto biases or judgments? How can you open your heart to the unexpected ways God might be inviting you into deeper fellowship with others? Are there areas He’s calling us to step outside of our comfort zone to allow our hearts to be molded to look a little more like His each day?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the abundance of Your love and grace in the world. Help me to see beyond my own expectations and biases, and to embrace the fullness of Your wisdom. May I be a vessel of Your love, welcoming all into the community You are building. Help me to step outside my comfort zone so that I might love the world more like You each day. Open my eyes to the opportunities around me. Teach me to recognize and celebrate the unique ways You are at work, in and through me and those around me. Amen.
Author: Becca Artymenko
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