The Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?”
And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of the physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” [Luke 5:30-31]
Righteousness is an elusive commodity. While you’re looking for it, you cannot describe it. Once you realize you’ve got it, you’ve probably lost it.
Now replace the word righteous with healthy and sinners with sick. “I have not come to call the healthy but the sick to repentance.” Repentance means “turning” and only those who know they are sick will turn to the physician.
Think about the robust man who believes he is invincible and does not need doctors – until he discovers he has some debilitating condition, then he is at the doctors office all the time. He pursues health with everything in him. The same could be said in spiritual matters. Only those who know they are sick will seek the physician’s help.
God, we humans think of our health as something we have for ourselves. I don’t want to think of it that way. I want to see my spiritual health as the ability to help others. I am healthy so I can help others be restored to health. And the healthier I get, the more I can help.
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