July 2017 Monthly Letter

Dear Reconciler Family,

As I think about the life of Jesus, one thing that comes to mind is that He was no respecter of persons. He was willing to break through barriers that a lot of people of his ethnic group were not willing to do, reaching out to people of all ethnic groups, including mine and yours.

He spent time with Mary and her sister, Martha, and was called an adulterer. He spent time with a rich tax
collector named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was so anxious to see Jesus that he ran ahead of the crowd that was
following Jesus and sat in a sycamore tree to see Jesus, because he was too short to see over the crowd. “I must stay in your house,” he told Jesus. He received Jesus in his own home, to the chagrin of the Pharisees and tax collectors. Jesus and Zacchaeus shared a meal, an event that the Pharisees hated and considered wrong.

As a group of people who considered themselves God’s chosen people and his fellow spiritual leaders, the
Pharisees missed the whole point of what Jesus was trying to get across to them. The point was: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

Jesus was a true socialite who loved everybody, socialized with everyone who was willing, and even gave his life for every man, woman and child who is willing to accept it.

Another great example of the love and sociability of Jesus was the way he treated the woman at the well. We find this account in John, chapter 4. Jesus was willing to talk with her and even asked her for a drink of water. This was significant because the Pharisees acted just the opposite. They shunned everyone who was not like them. They felt more righteous that anybody else on the planet. Jesus was willing to socialize with any human being on earth who wanted to socialize
with Him.

This woman at the well was an outcast. She was a Samaritan, a woman from a different ethnic group from the Jews. Jews considered persons of racially mixed backgrounds unworthy to socialize with. Furthermore, she was considered “unworthy” as a human being; she and her people were the brunt of dirty name-calling.

In this letter I would like to ask us all including myself: is there anyone of any ethnic group that you have a hard time loving, socializing with, and unwilling to spend time with if you had the opportunity? If the answer is yes, don’t be surprised. Our society has socialized us to do so. And I include myself.

Thank God that we have Jesus who has lead the way for us all by setting the example; He loves everybody and has proven it by dying for every MAN, WOMAN and CHILD who has ever lived. In John13:34 Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another.”

I love you guys and ladies and I hope I’m increasing that love. And I want to thank you for showing your love to God and His people by sharing in His Ministry of Reconciliation! You are reaching others with your love!