Outside Looking In

Luke 5:31-32 (Message Version of the Bible)

Jesus heard about it and spoke up, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out."

Think about all the times when you've been on the outside looking in. Think about how it felt, and how being an outsider has affected you. We've all been to a point in our lives when we weren't included in something- be it sports or hanging out with friends when we were younger, or being left out of certain social groups as we grow older, we've all been there. And it's so common today to see people left out and abandoned because they are different in some way. But God makes us an amazing promise through Jesus' words that He didn't come for the insiders or to abandon the people who are different. Jesus came to save everyone, and to bring the outsiders into his embrace so that they are never left abandoned again. And once we are caught in that incredible embrace and we are no longer left on the outside looking in, we find ourselves caught in an indescribable transformation, inside and out.

Talk to Christ about moments when you've felt left out and forgotten, and talk to Him about how it's affected you. Then if you feel Him leading you, ask Christ to embrace you in His unconditional, undying love. And in this embrace with Christ, ask Him to change you from the inside out, to make you a new and pure creation in Him. Also ask Christ if there are any outsiders in your life that Christ could use you to reach out too. Once you open the door for Christ to work through you, you'll find amazing things happening not only in your life, but in the lives of those Christ touches through you.

I hope you all have a wonderful day, and I pray that Christ's embrace gives you peace, strength and joy through out today.

Madelynn