Guilty By Association

Read

Matthew 9:11 “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’”

Think

The religious leaders in Jesus' time had no problem with his compassion for the outcasts. They didn’t mind that he healed the sick or fed the hungry. What unsettled them and made them uncomfortable was his willingness to be seen with the people everyone else avoided. Jesus didn’t just serve the marginalized from a distance; he embraced them, ate with them, and called them friends. That’s when the tension began. If we’re serious about following Jesus, it’s worth asking ourselves: “When was the last time I made someone uncomfortable because of the company I keep?” If we’re genuinely living like Christ, that may happen more often than we think.

Jesus’ love isn’t distant or detached—it’s personal, intimate, and messy. He didn’t come to merely offer advice or wave a hand of blessing from the heavens. He came as Emmanuel, God with us. Not just "God for us" or "God looking after us," but "God right in the middle of our mess." Jesus came close. He entered into the brokenness of our world and the dirtiness of our lives, drawing near to those who felt unworthy, unseen, and unloved. His love is always proximate—he moves toward us when others move away.

As followers of Jesus, we’re called to live out this same kind of love—a love that is unafraid to be misunderstood, a love that moves into the lives of those society tends to ignore. It’s not comfortable. It might even make some people question our choices. But this is the way of Jesus. He invites us to step into the uncomfortable, to love beyond the boundaries of what’s expected, and to be his hands and feet in the lives of those who need him most. The question is, are we willing to follow him there?

Apply

Make a point to intentionally spend time with someone who might be overlooked or marginalized—whether grabbing coffee with a coworker who tends to sit alone or reaching out to a neighbor who’s been through a tough time. Ask God to give you the courage to move beyond your comfort zone.

Pray

Jesus, thank you for being Emmanuel, for coming close to me in my mess and brokenness. Help me to follow your example and draw near to those who feel overlooked or unloved. Give me the courage to love beyond my comfort zone and to be your hands and feet in the lives of others. In your name. Amen.