You are a Christian. You’ve been one a long time. You gave your life to Jesus Christ and now you read your Bible, pray often, and you’re at church every time the doors are open. Your family, friends, and neighbors know that you are a Christian because you’ve told them so and because you can, and have, quoted chapter and verse to them from your Bible. (They also know because of all of the forwarded “Christian” emails you send to them.  🙂 ) You are a wealth of biblical information and are able to speak the truth into any situation, but how approachable are you?

Once people know that you are a Christian will they be able to approach you with real life issues and hurts? Are you accessible when they have deep spiritual questions that only the God of the Bible can answer?

As with everything in the Christian faith, Jesus is our perfect example in how to be approachable. The example He gives us is recorded in Luke 15:1 (NLT) which says, “Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.” Now you may be thinking where’s the example in this short passage?! But I assure you there’s a very important lesson to learn here.

I don’t believe there was any question regarding what Jesus taught or where he stood on moral, political, or spiritual issues. When a person came to hear Jesus speak they knew what His position was regarding topic at hand. Whether He used a parable or a direct illustration to make His point, His words were clear and spoke the heart. Even at the age of 12 the religious teachers of the day were amazed at His understanding of the Scriptures (Luke 2:41-51).

But unlike normal men who usually become lofty and unapproachable with their higher learning and knowledge, Jesus remained welcoming, accessible, and reachable. Listen to how various translations describe the types of people that came to visit Jesus in Luke 15:1:

The New Living Translation says “tax collectors and notorious sinners.”
The Amplified Bible says “tax collectors and [notorious and especially wicked] sinners.”
The Message Bible says “men and women of doubtful reputation.”

I think it’s clear that the people who “often came” to see Jesus were less than desirable people; the rejects of society. Yet the Gospels are clear that He made Himself reachable by anybody: rich or poor, schooled or unschooled, healthy or sick.

So may I ask the question, “How are we doing in this area?”

Matthew 9:10-13 says:
10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.‘ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (emphasis added.)

And Hosea 6:6 says:
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings (emphasis added.)

I believe these two passages clearly outline the reason why we need to be approachable like our Lord Jesus. God desires mercy, not sacrifice! He wants people to acknowledge him and know him personally! Every action that God has and will ever take is to prove that he loves us and that he is accessible through this Son, Jesus Christ.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (emphasis added.)

God the Father gave his only Son for the express purpose that he would die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. In order to do this, God put himself in an approachable “position.” He made himself approachable by giving us his Son.

Anytime you physically give somebody a gift you too are putting yourself in an approachable position. Your stance is more relaxed instead of stiff. Your arms are open and extended instead of crossed or tucked in your pockets. And the expression on your face is most likely one that’s smiling and inviting. It’s clear that you are approachable and not closed off.

Even when we are not giving gifts we still need to watch the “positions” of our attitude and hearts because nonbelievers are watching. When nonbelievers find out that we are Christians, they will intentionally watch us to see how we handle situations at work, at home, with our friends, or wherever we happen to be. If we come across with a stiff, cross-armed attitude and a closed heart, there’s a strong chance they will attribute our attitude and actions to God’s character. And why not! If we say we are Christian, then our attitude and actions must reflect our Christian God, right?

Peter’s advice to us in this matter is to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (1 Peter 2:12.)

So how can we live such “good lives” like Peter recommends? How can we truly live an approachable life like Jesus? I believe there are four practical things we can do:

1. See people through the eyes of a blind person.

Simply put, don’t judge people based on their outward appearances. First Samuel 16:7 says that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” and this needs to be our focus as well.

2. Remember that no one is greater than another.

Christian, sometimes the best thing for us to remember is that we are sinners saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. Every single one of us — all people — are on the same playing field when it comes to our need for salvation. Priest or peasant, corporate tycoon or homeless person, we all need Jesus equally. Without Jesus in our lives we are all “notorious and especially wicked sinners.”

3. God gave to you so that you would give to others.

Matthew 10:8 says, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Intentionally put yourself in a position to give and fulfill Jesus’ command. Look for opportunities at your work, in your home, at your church, at the store, and hanging out with your friends to freely give what God has given to you. 

4. Live with an “open arms policy.”

Have an open arms policy, not just an open door policy. Make yourself, not just your office, personally available to others. Jesus showed us ultimate love and accessibility by opening his arms wide on the cross. We should do no less by showing his love and accessibility to nonbelievers.

Choose today to live a life like Jesus, open and accessible to people of all kinds. Pray that the Lord would give you opportunities for people to come and receive from God through you.