I overheard a conversation once. It was two people discussing the prospects of Christianity. They were both very adamant that if they continued to live like they were, they would be okay because they weren't very much different from Christians. One even mentioned that at one time they got asked to leave the church because they were not dressed "appropriately."
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Luke 18:10 -13.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders in Jesus' time. They also considered themselves better than others. They would go about and do and say things to impress the people about how holy they were and how beneath them the common people were. They would not congregate with "sinners", they would do all they could to prop themselves up and degrade others. But the biggest problem was that they were supposed to be the "servant leaders" of the people. They were the keepers of God's law and were supposed to interpret the law, and teach the people God's ways by demonstrating to the people, in love, how God wanted them to love Him, and other people.
It was because of leadership such as this, many people felt separated from God and not even concerned about how they were living. If they couldn't measure up to the Pharisee's standards, why bother trying to live up to God's. Jesus Himself often times opened the eyes of the Pharisees to what they were doing to the people, and in the end, it was the Pharisees that eventually sought out His crucifixion for disturbing and "turning the hearts" of the people. The truth is that Jesus was showing the people that God loved and accepted all, regardless of where they were. And even if the people didn't accept Him, Jesus still loved them.
How about those of us that confess to being Christians? I think that, like the Pharisees, we forget where Jesus found us. We were not born holy and righteous, but there are many of us that act like we were. Think about the time you first heard about this "Jesus person". I wonder, were you an alcoholic? Drug addict? Maybe a prostitute or a homeless person? It doesn't really matter because the fact is, Jesus found us somewhere, and it was because someone else took the time to show the love of Christ to us. It was that unconditional love that attracted us.
I have often thought that, were Christ here today, how many churches would close their doors on Him because of His ministry? Jesus would not be welcomed in most churches because of the blood and dirt on His feet. Jesus ministered to the lost, the broken, the prostitutes on 5th Avenue, the murderers in Folsom Prison, the thieves, the liars, Jesus loved them, showed them His love, and saved them, just as He saved you and me. Jesus died the sinners death for ALL MANKIND!! (John 3:16).
Who were the two that were having the conversation at the beginning of this post? Well, that is not important. What is important is that in some ways, they are right. As Christians, we are watched by others that are curious. We are watched to see what we have got that they don't. Many of us find Jesus, join a church, and then talk about "those people" forgetting that we were also one of "those people", and, in many ways, still are. Jesus came to us to give us new life, hope, and love. Then He asked us to go and show that love to others. (Matt 28:19-20). How do we demonstrate God's love to them when we constantly talk down to them, make fun of them, and then turn them away? Jesus said to come to Him, just as we are, ragged clothes, lives, and all. Remember, anyone one of us could be them now, anyone one of them is a creation of God, anyone one of them used to be me.
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
"Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men---robbers, evildoers, adulterers---or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Luke 18:10 -13.
The Pharisees were the religious leaders in Jesus' time. They also considered themselves better than others. They would go about and do and say things to impress the people about how holy they were and how beneath them the common people were. They would not congregate with "sinners", they would do all they could to prop themselves up and degrade others. But the biggest problem was that they were supposed to be the "servant leaders" of the people. They were the keepers of God's law and were supposed to interpret the law, and teach the people God's ways by demonstrating to the people, in love, how God wanted them to love Him, and other people.
It was because of leadership such as this, many people felt separated from God and not even concerned about how they were living. If they couldn't measure up to the Pharisee's standards, why bother trying to live up to God's. Jesus Himself often times opened the eyes of the Pharisees to what they were doing to the people, and in the end, it was the Pharisees that eventually sought out His crucifixion for disturbing and "turning the hearts" of the people. The truth is that Jesus was showing the people that God loved and accepted all, regardless of where they were. And even if the people didn't accept Him, Jesus still loved them.
How about those of us that confess to being Christians? I think that, like the Pharisees, we forget where Jesus found us. We were not born holy and righteous, but there are many of us that act like we were. Think about the time you first heard about this "Jesus person". I wonder, were you an alcoholic? Drug addict? Maybe a prostitute or a homeless person? It doesn't really matter because the fact is, Jesus found us somewhere, and it was because someone else took the time to show the love of Christ to us. It was that unconditional love that attracted us.
I have often thought that, were Christ here today, how many churches would close their doors on Him because of His ministry? Jesus would not be welcomed in most churches because of the blood and dirt on His feet. Jesus ministered to the lost, the broken, the prostitutes on 5th Avenue, the murderers in Folsom Prison, the thieves, the liars, Jesus loved them, showed them His love, and saved them, just as He saved you and me. Jesus died the sinners death for ALL MANKIND!! (John 3:16).
Who were the two that were having the conversation at the beginning of this post? Well, that is not important. What is important is that in some ways, they are right. As Christians, we are watched by others that are curious. We are watched to see what we have got that they don't. Many of us find Jesus, join a church, and then talk about "those people" forgetting that we were also one of "those people", and, in many ways, still are. Jesus came to us to give us new life, hope, and love. Then He asked us to go and show that love to others. (Matt 28:19-20). How do we demonstrate God's love to them when we constantly talk down to them, make fun of them, and then turn them away? Jesus said to come to Him, just as we are, ragged clothes, lives, and all. Remember, anyone one of us could be them now, anyone one of them is a creation of God, anyone one of them used to be me.
May God richly bless you today!! H Trent!
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