Joel M Bradshaw

1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”–Luke 15

The only sinner that has hope is the Prodigal. Be like him.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ (Luke 15:17-21)

1. The Prodigal began with his self-talk and directed his thoughts.
2. He acknowledged his sinful, broken state and need to repent.
3. He both decided to go back and then physically did.
4. He owned what he needed to own with an attitude of humility.
5. He saw his sin both in terms of God and also man.

Jesus receives sinners who are repentant from their sin and who now trust Him with their stories. Repentance starts on the inside and flows to the outside. And frankly, Jesus never cared about what anyone else thought about that. He was and is in the business to save sinners and rewrite their stories. The villains never have to stay the villains. But they have to repent this way. Those are the sinners that Jesus receives and eats with. Those are the only sinners with hope.–JMB