Scripture: Mark 2:13-17

Jesus was not concerned about his reputation. He raised the bar for Scriptural truth, but at the same time he spent a significant amount of time with people who would have been considered unclean and unrighteous. Too often, the posture of the church is to stiff-arm—to push away from people who make us uncomfortable or who don’t fit our tidy ideas about righteousness. But Jesus modeled a way of love that embraced the outcasts and the unclean, and in doing so showed us the real meaning of truth and grace. Our posture towards those around us, especially towards those who might challenge our comforts, should be one of arms-wide welcoming.