Tuesday, February 12 2008

The Love for Soul

Mark 2:17 – “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees when He was getting really comfortable being around ‘tax collectors and sinners’. It didn’t stop Him or even shake Him out even a moment. He knew his mission, He knew his goal, He knew his ministry – it is for the lost soul. He loves soul, regardless how it might look like from the outside – tax collectors, prostitutes, homeless, murderer, etc. He is constantly looking for soul to minister to. He knows that people are not the problem, but people have problems.

It is exciting to meet new people and making friends with them. But more often than not, as we get to know them more deeply – knowing their problems and who they really are behind the closet – we have this feeling of dislike toward them. We got so tangled up trying to get close with the person so that we missed their souls blurred out by their bad habits and characters. We lost our passion for their soul once we come face to face with the real person. Jesus never did.

Ministry can be exhausting and friendship can be hard at times, but our love for the lost soul should not be extinguished for any reason. We, Christians, are called to love and seek the lost souls – in whatever outlook and appearance there might be. Just like Jesus, we are called not to seek and call the righteous, but rather to seek, call, and love sinners – just like ourselves.