Most of us say we want to love Jesus more and get closer to Him. We think that is done merely by prayer and our devotional life. There is more. We love Jesus by loving those whom Jesus loves, the least, the lost, the scorned, and the rejected ones. We draw near to Him by drawing near those who are near to His heart. Loving our neighbor is an expression of our love for God. Loving God is more than private piety. It is getting our hands dirty.
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” Luke 15:1-2 (NASB).