i would be the first to admit that i have the tendency to be judgmental. sometimes i get into the ditch of judging before i realize what i'm actually doing, thanks to Holy Spirit convicting me. so this is not me trying to be all miss perfect and holiest of holy. this is me calling out my sin and challenging myself and you to be more mindful of how we react towards people who are neck deep, drenched into the bog of sin.
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we must be the bigger person and let the love of Jesus inside of us move us into action by helping folks to come into repentance. the gathering of Christians should be the last place where people struggling with sin should feel judged and condemned. the church is where spiritually sick people go for healing so why do we sometimes condemn people with our sharp looks and gossip/slander? we only drive people who need Jesus away when we wrap ourselves with such attitude.
Jesus has called me to be a friend to sinners and help them get to know Him personally. however, i must remember that bad company corrupts good character. so where do i draw the line? i believe i can build a healthy friendship with those who don't really know Jesus and help them see Truth but make sure they are not the ones influencing me to go astray from Jesus. i must remember that the people i surround myself with consistently, my close friends should be people passionately chasing after Jesus as i am. but this also does not mean i ignore people God places in my path to influence and show His love to.
God is the only One with the right to condemn/judge a sinner, not me or you. but it doesn't mean i should look on unconcerned when i see someone going down with sin. the Word teaches me to correct [not condemn] people in love. the way i call out the sin in others, the tone i use matters. if we correct in a judgmental, harsh, condemning manner how can the person in sin be willing to change for Jesus? they're likely to rather become angry, bitter and feel unloved and walk farther and farther away from people who are supposed to be radiating with the love of Jesus and go seek comfort in their sins/wrong company. and the viscous cycle continues until someone like me decides to be brave and really reach out to the 'unlovable' and be the hands and feet of Jesus to them.
how would you feel and where would you be if Jesus held your sins against you and decided not to come and die to take away your sins? you and i would be doomed if He didn't love us enough to forever cleanse us from our sins.
this song convicts me so much! see how the little boy was ready to reach out to the old drunken man? oh, how Jesus is so right about how we need to be like children to enter into the kingdom of Heaven!
somebody like me ~ jason crabb
the congregation parted like the red sea when that old drunk stumbled in down
the aisle and took a seat right in the middle of amazing grace.
he could feel the judgement they were passing,
thought to himself 'aint that just how some folks acting.'
he'd rather be on the street than in this place and with tears on his face
you'd think somebody would put their arm around him
you'd think somebody would hit a knee, pull him in, say a prayer,
that's what i'm talking 'bout right there.
you'd think somebody would practice what they're preaching.
well, i wonder who that somebody could be.
prob'ly somebody like me.
well, he's got problems nobody wants a part of.
when he got up and slipped out nobody stood up.
they don't wanna make a scene so they let him walk outta there without a prayer
you'd think somebody would do something different
you'd think somebody would go against the grain,
be the one to run him down, bring him back and turn him around.
you'd think somebody would wanna make a difference.
well, i wonder who that somebody could be.
prob'ly somebody like me.
oh, can i get a witness? somebody, somebody. oooh yeah.
you'd think somebody would put their arm around him
you'd think somebody would hit a knee, pull him in, say a prayer,
yeah, ooh
you'd think somebody would put their arm around him
you'd think somebody would hit a knee, pull him in, say a prayer,
that's what i'm talking 'bout right there.
you'd think somebody would want to make a difference
well, i wonder who that somebody could be.
prob'ly somebody like me.
"and if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? do not even pagans do that?" matthew 5:47
"'a new command I give you: love one another. as I have loved you, so you must love one another. by this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.' " john 13:34-35
"while Jesus was having dinner at matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. when pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, 'why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' on hearing this, Jesus said, 'it is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. but go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' " matthew 9:10-13
"do to others as you would have them do to you. if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? even sinners love those who love them. and if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? even sinners do that." luke 6:31-33
"instead, speaking the Truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ." ephesians 4:15
"do not judge, and you will not be judged. do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. forgive, and you will be forgiven." luke 6:37
"if we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. if we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us." 1 john 1:8-10
"then i acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. i said, 'i will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' and You forgave the guilt of my sin.' " psalm 32:5
"whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. for whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen." 1 john 4:20
"when they kept on questioning Him, He [Jesus] straightened up and said to them, 'let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her' [adulteress.] again He stooped down and wrote on ground. at this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'woman, where are they? has no one condemned you?' 'no one, Sir,' she said. 'then neither do i condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'go now and leave your life of sin.' john 8: 7-11
let's ask Jesus to help us carry Him to people who are broken and need the Hope tucked within us, to learn how to love people who are lost and at the same time to have the wisdom to know how to properly relate with them so we don't end up being influenced to go astray from Him.
xoxo, gen delali.
