August 28, 2026
Opening Prayer
Lord, open the eyes of my heart to understand Your Word. Let your truth penetrate deeply and guide my life. Give me fresh revelation that empowers and instructs me. May my devotional time today reveal more of who You are. Amen.
30But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? ”
31Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
Jesus’ first disciples were quite honestly quite a mixed bunch. They weren’t the religious elite, and they definitely weren’t Bible experts, like the Pharisees or Saducees. They were just regular working people — a few fishermen, a tax collector, and one rather pessimistic guy. They didn’t always get things right, they had limited understanding. Yet, they were held together by one thing: they all wanted to follow Jesus and learn from Him.
You have probably noticed in your own reading of the Gospel's that Jesus loved people so much He constantly was criticized for hanging with the "wrong crowd" (Luke 5:30). Those criticisms didn't stop Him for a moment. He just kept sitting at the dinner table for sinners. His response to the religious critics is a memorable comeback: "Healthy folks don't need a doctor; sick people do. I'm not here for the self-righteous—I'm here for the sinners who need to turn things around" (vv. 31–32).
Jesus details his core principle: a doctor actually has to get close to sick people if any real healing is going to happen. As the ultimate Physician, He isn't hungup with endless rules and social practices. Jesus showed that he cares about healing the sick and wrapping His arms around the brokenhearted.
Author Bob Goff nailed it in a post when he wrote: "Most of us spend our entire lives avoiding the people Jesus spent His whole life engaging."
That hits home. Jesus clearly wants us leaning into relationships with people who need a Savior, rather than backing away or playing it safe.
When we followers of Jesus live open-handed and open-hearted, people genuinely catch a glimpse of God’s love through us. We might not always grasp every detail of what God is doing in those moments, but His presence becomes undeniable—whether that’s in a living room, over a meal, at a coffee shop, or in the middle of everyday family and work life. If Christ lives in every believer, then every interaction becomes a chance for people to experience Him. The setting doesn't matter. What counts is that we are passing along Jesus' love, peace, and rest to anyone, anywhere, in a world that is getting more restless by the day.
As Paul sums up in 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, Christ's love is what moves us. Since He died for everyone, our old self-centered lives are done. He gave us a fresh start so we’d stop living for ourselves and start living for Him—the One who died and rose again on our behalf.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for meeting us right where we are. Help us to feel Your healing love today and to reflect that same grace to everyone we encounter—wherever we go, without judgment or fear.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Remember that Jesus chooses ordinary people.
His first disciples weren’t experts — they were willing learners. Application: Don’t wait until you “feel ready” to follow Jesus more deeply. Bring your real, imperfect self to Him today.
Move toward people rather than away from them.
Jesus sat with the “wrong crowd” and didn’t flinch at criticism. Application: Ask God to show you one person you can move toward with kindness, presence, or conversation — especially someone others overlook.
Live open‑handed and open‑hearted.
When believers live this way, people catch glimpses of God’s love through us. Application: Practice one simple act of openness today:
share a meal, send an encouraging message, offer help, pray with someone
Small acts become sacred encounters.
See every interaction as a chance for Jesus to be seen.
If Christ lives in us, then His presence can show up anywhere — living rooms, coffee shops, workplaces, family life. Application: Before entering any space today, whisper: “Jesus, let Your love be felt through me here.”
Let Christ’s love be your motivation.
Paul says Christ’s love compels us to stop living for ourselves and start living for Him. Application: Ask yourself: “Is love motivating me right now?” If not, pause and realign your heart with His.
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