“And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” Luke 15:2.

THE BLESSED RESULTS OF DRAWING NEAR TO CHRIST

He “receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” verse 2.

1. The Lord welcomes sinners. Sinners drawing near to Him was what He wanted. It was the great purpose of His coming to seek them out.

He makes Himself available to seeking sinners. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” Luke 11:9. Please note that a genuine seeker is one who is persistent!

2. He receives them personally. The word ‘receiveth’ means to ‘receive unto one’s self’. We will remember our study of the woman in Mark 5:30-33. There was a personal dealing with her.

So it never with the Lord dealings with His people. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also,” John 14:3.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first,” 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

3. He receives them permanently. He ‘eateth’ with them. That speaks of a lasting relationship. Action of family, friends - happy time. He has them take up residence with Him and enjoy fellowship with Him. Rev 3:20.

Will you draw near to Him today? Only those who came to Christ on earth can enter into His presence in heaven!

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also,” John 14:3.