Friday 9th December

Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1:1-4;
Matthew 11:16-19

Labels and reputation

As we prepare to celebrate God being with us - Immanuel - let’s reflect for a moment on the extraordinary criticism made of Jesus and glimpse its beauty: “he eats and drinks and is a friend of sinners.” Would you like to draw close to someone who enjoys eating and drinking and has such a big heart to earn the reputation of welcoming and including and befriending the suffering and excluded? Jesus was probably quite comfortable with this label and reputation. Am I? What would it look like in my life to follow Jesus' example?