Sinners Not Saints

Have you ever been to religious? Ever felt like you were above someone else, or that God is more proud of you than He is others that live in sin? Ever thought you were God's friend just because you go to Sunday School, Church, Discipleship Training, church again, visitation on Tuesdays and church again on Wednesday night? Maybe God thinks your awesome because you attend all of these meetings. I have to admit there was a time in my life that I thought God was proud of me for going to churh, but the whole time thinking this, I was a sinner that hadn't yet been saved by grace. These things came to my mind today when I was reading in the book of Matthew. Chapter 9 verse 9 through 13 is the calling of Matthew. Matthew was a tax collector. Jesus went by the tax office and said to him, Follow Me, and Matthew got up and followed Him. It goes on to say that Jesus was reclining at the table when many tax collectors and sinners came as guests to eat with Jesus. The Pharisees, who were very religious, saw all of the tax collectors and sinners come in so they asked Jesus' disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard them asking this question and told them that well people do not need a doctor, sick people do. He says too that He didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners. Talk about a wake up call!! Jesus came to die for sinners. Although they don't see it themselves the Pharisees thought they were religious and didn't need Jesus, they thought they were better than these sinners. Jesus tells them this is who He wants, He died so all the sins of the sinners could be forgiven and covered by His blood. Jesus also died for the Pharisees because they were sinners and though they didn't recognize it, they needed a Savior as well. I pray that your not a Pharisee and you realize you are a sinner and let the blood of Jesus cover your sins.