He walked toward the messiness of Zacchaeus' cheating.
He walked toward the messiness of the broken marriages of the woman at the well.
He walked toward the messiness of the immorality of the woman who was about to be stoned.
He walked toward the messiness of Peter's betrayal.
He walked toward the messiness of the publican's sinfulness.
He walked toward the messiness of Saul's hatred and unbelief.
When the Pharisees asked Jesus why He walked toward the messiness, He replied by saying...
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9)
If you truly want to minister like Jesus, you will have to walk toward the messiness. You will walk toward the messiness of couples living together unmarried. You will walk toward the messiness of people struggling with addiction. You will walk toward the messiness of people ensnared by immorality. You will walk toward the messiness of people in financial upheaval. You will walk toward the messiness of couples going through divorce. You will walk toward the messiness of unbiblical worldviews. You will walk toward the messiness of people who have made terrible decisions.
The church is meant to be a spiritual emergency room...not a museum. An emergency room is messy. An emergency room is chaotic at times. An emergency room can be intense. An emergency room goes through life and death situations. An emergency room constantly pushes you out of your comfort zone. An emergency room is not for the faint of heart.
But it's where healing happens. It's where hope is found in the midst of heartache. It's where lives are saved.
The Pharisees criticized the messiness. The Pharisees condemned the messiness. The Pharisees walked away from the messiness. That's why they got so upset with Jesus. He walked toward it. Join Him. Walk toward the messiness. That's where the miracles happen!
