There Is Still Hope For You!

Are you a sinner, in need of God’s mer­cy? Are you feeling a sense of hopeless­ness? Worry not! There is still hope for you! God is still in­terested in you? Through this reflection you will realise that Jesus came into this world be­cause of people like you? Your case may be like the case of Matthew the Tax Collector.

Before the call of Matthew, tax collectors were the most dreaded people in the Jewish society. They were treated as outcasts. Relating with Tax Col­lectors is like relating with sin­ners. When Jesus came into the world he did not discriminate. He related with people equally and fraternally. A typical exam­ple was the case of Matthew the Tax Collector.

In the gospel of Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax col­lector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Child of God, if you were the one will you be able to leave your office and ev­erything to follow Jesus?

Today, Jesus is calling you, the same way he called Mat­thew. In the gospel of Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus declares, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” As you come to Jesus he will take away your burdens. He will give you rest and He will restore your lost glory.

After responding to his calling, Matthew organised a party in his home where he in­vited Jesus. “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” Child of God, the next family Jesus will visit after Matthew’s is your home.

In Revelation 3:20, our Lord Jesus Christ declares, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Child of God, Jesus is knocking at the door of your home. Will you open the door for him? You will never regret doing so!

When the Pharisees saw Je­sus eating with tax collectors and sinners they asked his dis­ciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sin­ners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” It is not only the saints that need the Saviour but sinners.

Jesus came into the world primarily to save souls, espe­cially the sinners. In the gospel of Matthew 1:21 the Angel told Joseph in the dream that Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his peo­ple from their sins.” Jesus is indeed our Saviour! He is the Savour of all the sinners!

Jesus justified his action by telling the Pharisees, “Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Child of God, do you know that you are among the sinners that our Lord Jesus Christ has come to save? Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow… If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. And it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!