Today's encouragement comes from Matthew 9:13b, where we read these words from the lips of our Lord Jesus Christ:
"For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."It is intriguing that the Messiah came to earth to call and save sinners, and not "righteous" people. Our ordinary way of thinking—driven by our fallen flesh—is to imagine that God is interested in "good" people; and that, if we could just get "good enough," He might possibly cast a merciful eye on us.
But this is not the truth, nor is it in harmony with the gospel. Instead, Jesus comes to save those who have and present *no* resources, as "payment" for their sin. Christ *only* helps those who know they cannot help themselves. Only sinners qualify for salvation in Jesus’ blood—which is the only salvation that exists.
[Puritan quote of the day: "What is the glory of the times we live in, but God's face revealed in Christ?” —Richard Sibbes, in, "Glorious Freedom"]
