But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do.”Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
I can't recall the number of times I have said I will never say the same things my father said to me. Yet I have caught myself so many times being every bit a tough disciplinarian as he was. As leaders, fathers, and husbands; we often take the mistakes, sins or disobedience of our children personally. I would allow myself to get angrier than necessary because I was more concerned with what the world thought of my family than how God see's them, even to the point of looking down on them as the Pharisees did the tax collectors and others of poor reputation Jesus often ate with.
God in His grace has shown me how gentle His Spirit is, that if I want to have influence in the lives of those around me I need to love those people as He does. I have become more of a loving instructor to my family than the angry tyrant I have displayed in the past.
Those among us who are not leaders, those who are hurting, those under our authority, are in those positions for a reason. They need ministry, they need our gentleness and love to become the leaders God intends them to be. Painful submission can easily become rebellion. When we look at other's mistakes knowing we are every bit a sinner; the pride and anger breaks off and we can love our families and those around us like the Great Physician Himself, showing mercy and gentleness.
Lord, we all need to love as You loved. Help us to see the pain of others, help us to recognize how vulnerable they are. Perhaps, most of all, show us that we are just as sinful as they are. Father; as we deal with our families, give us Your mercy and grace, Lord. May we cover our families in gentle kindness and love as You have loved us.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Jason Hunt