God is not looking for good people!  That seems to surprise many religious people who think that God will accept them for all the good things they try to do ... but it is not true.  Jesus came so that sinful people who live in darkness might see and believe the truth (John 12:46).  Jesus was quite emphatic - He did not come for healthy and righteous people, but for sick sinners (Luke 5:31-32).

Neither does He take pleasure in the best of our offerings, or commend us when we proudly discipline ourselves to be better people (Hebrews 10:8).  Instead, He wants us to relate with other people and with Him, honestly (Hosea 6:6).  He delights to show mercy to the weakest, and most fallen of sinners who come to Him in repentance and faith (Micah 7:18).  Jesus expected His followers to learn to be merciful too (Luke 6:36).

This can be a hard lesson to learn, because it goes right against the grain of the world and our own sinful hearts.  Naturally, we would rather condemn or ignore sinners, than show mercy.  It is easier to show other people the sacrifices we are prepared to make to God, than welcome sinners who cannot help themselves.  They need the help of Jesus, as did the corrupt tax officials and the immoral women (Matthew 9:10-11).  When the grip of sin binds people into a sick lifestyle, only the merciful power of Jesus can release them.  But judgemental and unmerciful people are at risk of being denied God’s mercy (James 2:12-13).

When Jesus calls sinners, He does so because He wants them to belong to Him.  Their sin is to be covered by His blood, and their guilt removed by His mercy; their future is assured by His grace.  It is a most remarkable message of hope for the hopeless.  Yet all too often the church plays sanctimonious games, with everybody pretending how good they are!  That was not God's purpose in sending Jesus; His real mission is only obscured by such hypocrites.  Let's get real with God's purpose: realise afresh how much God has forgiven us.  Ask for His help to love the unlovely and tell the hopeless that Jesus is calling them.  Some of those people are around you today - watching your life and hoping that you might lead them to Jesus.