It is common practice to see people who regard themselves as righteous to have their noses up in the air, feeling the need to disassociate with those less spiritual and undiscerning in their perspective.
The age and time of Jesus was no different. He was scorned as the friend of sinners and tax collectors, for Jesus ate with people like Zacchaeus, a tax collector regarded as a sinner.
Mark 2:16-17 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
As the song writer so aptly put it : "we cut down people in your name, but the sword was never ours to swing." God's heart beats for the lost sinner. His suffering on the cross was to win the wandering soul and rescue the hardened hearts of sinful men.
God is aching for the drunkard, the sexual pervert. He loves the violent perpetrator of domestic violence, as well as adores the soul of the helpless victim who feels so unloved.
Our role as Christians is to reach out in prayer for all to come to know this loving God, and to show Him forth in deed and word. Some would insult you for sharing the truth and abhor being corrected , speak it anyway!
Jesus assured us : "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:11-12.
Step out today, and show forth Jesus, in your small little way. All Jesus had to do for Zacchaeus to repent was give him some attention and friendly care. Even your smile can go a long way to save a lost soul. If only you would allow Jesus to smile through you. Let God use your light to light many more lights. One candle can light many other candles. Think on this!
WHAT IS NEXT?
