There are No Strangers

Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”– Luke 5:27-32

Last year, my family and I had the privilege of attending the 25-year celebration of an incredible ministry in Eastern KY, God’s Appalachian Partnership (GAP). GAP is led by friends, John and Shaughanessy Morris, and has and incredible staff of faithful gospel laborers who tirelessly serve the Lord by loving their neighbor well while sharing the hope of Jesus. They all truly embody what it means to live a life on mission for Christ. The celebration spanned over a weekend and included dedicated times to remember and celebrate all the Lord had done in those 25 years, rejoicing at how the Lord is working in the life of the ministry currently, and casting a vision for how the Lord is leading the ministry forward. It was an incredible time with dear friends. 

As a component of this celebratory weekend, John facilitated a panel discussion with individuals who had been served and blessed by GAP over the years. These were powerful testimonies of how those at GAP stepped into the challenging circumstances experienced by these individuals in their time of need and how, because of God’s grace and the faithfulness of His people, GAP was able to meet them in their time of need and bring help and hope. One such individual was a man named, Walter. Walter shared his story, talked about the impact GAP has had on his life, and shared some of his writing. There is one thing that Walter said that I have not forgotten and have meditated on quite regularly for many months. Walter said, “At GAP, there are no strangers. We’re all brothers and sisters.”  

Jesus was accused, and rightfully so, of being a friend of sinners (Matthew 11 and Luke 7) and we see in the account of the calling of Levi in Luke 5, Jesus being questioned as to why he is dining with “tax collectors and sinners.” Jesus’ response to this question, and really any question he was challenged with by the religious leaders, should give us great hope in our personal lives but also in our endeavors to be a people who live a missional life for the sake of Christ.

Why was Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners? It is because He came for the tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus came for the sick one. He came for the prideful one. He came for the anxious one. He came for the addicted one. He came for the depressed one. He came for the angry one. He came for the lustful one. He came for the neglected one. He came for you. And He came for me.

Jesus came to call sinners to repentance. Praise be to God there is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1)

Might we all consider how we can live in such a way where the “Walters” in our lives would say about us that we knew no stranger. May the truth of God’s grace in Christ, the example of Christ’s love for tax collectors and sinners, and our own testimony of faith drive us to love our neighbors, all of our neighbors, in word and deed so that many might come to know Him as Lord and Savior!

To God be the glory!