Topic: JESUS CAME FOR SINNERS – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 27 MARCH 2024 The Redeemed Evangelical Mission

Topic: JESUS CAME FOR SINNERS – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 27 MARCH 2024 The Redeemed Evangelical Mission

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JESUS CAME FOR SINNERS

“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner” Luke 19:7 (KJV)

Jesus was passing through Jericho and here comes this Publican, Zacchaeus, a tax collector. He saw the multitude and sought to see Jesus. Possibly, he didn’t come to be saved. Possibly he came, saw the crowd with Him and was wondering: “If I collect tax from this man, it will be heavy”. So, he ran to the Sycamore tree and climbed it, to see who Jesus was, because he was not too tall. Then Jesus came to that tree and stopped.

Put on your imagination; Jesus stopped. That shows that He was concerned about the big and the small, the low and the high. He told Zacchaeus to come down, that He was going to have lunch in his house. In the eyes of men, Zacchaeus’ house was not the ideal place to eat lunch.

The reason multitudes are not coming to church is because we think the church is for exclusive people, holy people, perfect people, people who don’t commit sin, and people who don’t make mistakes. But the church is a laundry. Any laundry that does not have dirty clothes come in will eventually close down. Our business is human business. So, we should expect dirty and stained materials. Also, those who have been ruffled and need ironing will come. When they come, our assignment is to restore them and make them know that we do not condemn them.

Many church folks are like the Pharisees. They tell you things like; I have been in this church all my life and I have given money. All my children were born here, and I am committed. I am not like other people. And that is the problem because your credential can never earn you a place before God. There is nothing you will do that will earn you anything before God. All of us are what we are by the grace of God. It is because of what He did for us. That is why we are doing what we are doing. The love of God for us constrains us. It was mercy that found you.