“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them’” (Luke 15:1-2, ESV, emphasis added).
Have you ever thought about the idea that Jesus not only hung out with sinners, but actually drew them in? Attracted them?
In Matthew 9, a woman desperately reaches out to Jesus for healing in the midst of a large crowd, Matthew 11 then describes Jesus as a friend of sinners, while in Luke 5, Levi throws a banquet for Jesus where tax collectors also came to enjoy a meal. In these instances, we see that Jesus wasn’t this annoying, intrusive guy who followed people around preaching at them. Often times, people sought Him out and were intrigued by very His nature.
It’s true that Jesus did face opposition, however, Jesus’ very nature attracted the lost. Do you, as a follower of Christ, attract the lost like Jesus did? And in what ways?
We can easily attract the lost through worldliness and compromises, but could we honestly say that this is the example that Jesus gave? Not at all. Countlessly, the Bible describes Jesus as perfect, blameless, and without sin. It was everything about Jesus – His qualities, His character, His nature – that caused interest and attraction amongst sinners.
Therefore, the very person of Jesus shinning through you is what will attract the lost. Know Him, spend time with Him, rely on Him as you seek to be like Him.
As you strive to impact the world, be challenged to “be blameless before the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 18:13) and attract the lost through exemplifying the very nature of Jesus. Remember, Jesus never sinned, yet sinners were attracted to Him.
“…whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” (1 John 2:6, ESV)