Joel M Bradshaw

29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”–Luke 5

Jesus’ words invite us to make one of two statements.

1. I’M SPIRITUALLY SICK AND NEED JESUS.
2. I’M NOT SPIRITUALLY SICK AND DON’T NEED JESUS.

The Pharisees were option 2. The ‘sinners’ with broken, messy pasts were option 1. There is hope for option 1, because that hope is only through Jesus. The only hope for option 2 is if they truly get woke to their reality and realize that they are actually option 1.

Jesus actually calls both options to repent of their sins, but only option 1 will listen. Option 2 thinks they are doing just fine, thanks. Hope lies in that repentance. Turning from yourself and turning to Jesus is the only path forward. In recovery we say trusting Jesus as our Higher Power.

The way I like to describe it, option 2 is the Joel path and option 1 is the Jesus path. When I was on the Joel path, I was a hypocrite. My only hope in life is found on the Jesus path. I have to remain intentional bout stopping and starting the right attitudes and decisions in my life. I have to take off the old Joel and put on the new Joel in Christ every day. That Joel path is otherwise far too tempting because it was and is my natural path. The Jesus path is unnatural to my nature. The self is the worst enemy of the sinner and Jesus is the only hope. Only option 1 will ever see this.–JMB