Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: EQUALITY (08/17/23)
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TITLE: God plays no favorites | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ed Arrington
08/23/23 -
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Jesus said to Matthew, “Follow me,” and the tax collector promptly obeyed. It is worth noting that tax collectors were not popular and many Jews viewed them as traitors serving the hated Roman Empire. Jesus knows this, of course, but right now, he is not concerned with those facts. He is hungry and intends to have dinner at Matthew’s house. I’m guessing that Matthew was either surprised or shocked when the whole crew walked in the front door and sat down to eat. Soon, they were joined by some more tax collectors and various other sinners. Some Pharisees were also there and they asked the disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners?’ (Matthew 9:11)
In Matthew 9:12, Jesus provided the answer – “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” In Matthew 9:13, he concludes his comments – “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
There were people in that gathering at Matthew’s house who believed in Jesus, yet most of them probably did not (Read Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus, however, loved them all equally and was concerned with their hearts. He didn’t care about their politics, social status, what they wore or where they came from. The Apostle Paul points this out in Galatians 3:28-29 – “There is neither Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Jesus was burdened with the ‘souls’ of individual people and cared only that they accept his gracious provision of love and grace and live forever with him, in Heaven.
True equality is found exclusively in the Kingdom of God, because those who have accepted Christ are living the only true life. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
On another occasion, Jesus describes his True Family. He is talking to a crowd and someone told him his mother and brothers were standing not far away, wanting to speak with the Savior.
Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Equality in a world of sin is a foolish, ill-conceived hope because it is structured around things that will not last and eventually will burn into oblivion.
Equality in Christianity is based on the shared certainty that those who accept and believe in the love of Jesus Christ, are richly blessed. One day, we who adore the Savior will enjoy the marvelous benefit found in the victory of eternal life.
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I too agree that the dream of equality within the world system is not going to happen.
But Jesus is Lord ???