Jesus, a Friend of Sinners
Jesus, a Friend of Sinners
Who are your friends? Who would people say are your friends? Will people know us because we only hang out with just “Christians”? Do you have friends or are acquainted with people of other faiths and beliefs – Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and the new category of the NONES – people who do not have any religion and are not interested in religion; the “bad” boys and girls ?
Jesus was rightly accused as follows: ’19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Matthew 11:19.
It is time to get out of our “Christian bubble” and to stop speaking our language, “Christianese”. We must go where the sinners are because we used to be one of them until Christ found us using someone. Let us become intentional about getting to know people who don’t think like us and act like us. Jesus came for sinners not the self-righteous. Jesus lives in us, so let us take ourselves with Jesus to meet the people He died for on the cross. Christ died for all and not just some.
Ask God to help you cultivate friendship with people who don’t think like you, look like you or go to church like you. The “sinners” are all around us in our homes and families, school, work place, neighborhood and community. Let them know the hope you have – “Christ in you the HOPE of glory”.
Let’s show them kindness, love and be a listening ear to what they have to say. Eat with them just as Jesus did. Let us pray for them that God will remove the blindness so they can see Christ. May God help us to be the Christ people can see, feel and touch. Amen.
Will you take a step today to get to know some “sinner”?
Scripture for Today’s Reading and Study Matthew 11:1-19:
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of[a]his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’[b]
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”[c]
Who are your friends? Who would people say are your friends? Will people know us because we only hang out with just “Christians”? Do you have friends or are acquainted with people of other faiths and beliefs – Moslems, Hindus, Buddhists, and the new category of the NONES – people who do not have any religion and are not interested in religion; the “bad” boys and girls ?
Jesus was rightly accused as follows: ’19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Matthew 11:19.
It is time to get out of our “Christian bubble” and to stop speaking our language, “Christianese”. We must go where the sinners are because we used to be one of them until Christ found us using someone. Let us become intentional about getting to know people who don’t think like us and act like us. Jesus came for sinners not the self-righteous. Jesus lives in us, so let us take ourselves with Jesus to meet the people He died for on the cross. Christ died for all and not just some.
Ask God to help you cultivate friendship with people who don’t think like you, look like you or go to church like you. The “sinners” are all around us in our homes and families, school, work place, neighborhood and community. Let them know the hope you have – “Christ in you the HOPE of glory”.
Let’s show them kindness, love and be a listening ear to what they have to say. Eat with them just as Jesus did. Let us pray for them that God will remove the blindness so they can see Christ. May God help us to be the Christ people can see, feel and touch. Amen.
Will you take a step today to get to know some “sinner”?
Scripture for Today’s Reading and Study Matthew 11:1-19:
John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus
11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of[a]his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
7 As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?8 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he of whom it is written:
‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’[b]
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
16 “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, 17 and saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.”[c]
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