Friend of Sinners?

 

“...a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ – Luke 7:34

Several years ago, friends of my wife and I from our home church, were involved in an adulterous affair. Fortunately, they repented of their sin and received forgiveness from Jesus Christ. When we went back for a visit, we were surprised to see they were both still attending the same church. I'm not sure how wise that was but at least they sat at opposite sides on the sanctuary.

After the worship service, my wife spoke with the lady and I spoke with the man. We did not bring up their affair but just spoke to them in generalities. We wanted to let them know that we were still friends and we loved them.

When we went outside, we were accosted by some of the local congregation. They wanted us to know that this couple had been involved in this terrible sin and that we should not be talking with them. (I should have noticed immediately following the service, no one spoke to them.) My response was that they had been forgiven by God and we shouldn't hold their past sin against them. Their response was they “thought” they were secretly seeing each other and had not left their sin.

I was saddened by their attitude. Two thoughts immediately came to my mind: 1] No one wants THIER past sins to be brought up. 2] This is not the attitude of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 says we are to have the mind of Christ. How would He treat them? The perfect example of Jesus's attitude toward sinners is found in John 8 where He dealt with a woman caught in the “act of adultery.” He said He did not condemn her but extended love, grace, and acceptance.

I've lost track of our friends but I hope they have found a church where they would find healing and acceptance.

Rejected But Accepted

"...I will never turn away anyone who comes to me," John 6:37

The story of King David has to an interesting backdrop. David was the youngest of eight brothers. When the prophet Samuel came to David's house to choose a new king, everyone assumed Samuel would choose, Eliab. Eliab was the biggest, oldest, and strongest of the brothers. Surely he was going to be the new king. But God said, “Nope. Not him.” Undoubtedly, Eliab felt spurned. The system seemed upside down. He wasn’t chosen as king. Instead, the youngest brother was—the kid who wasn’t even in the lineup. Eliab felt rejected, and rejected people reject people. 

None of us like to feel we aren’t good enough. Or smart enough. Or wanted enough. As much as we wish it weren’t so, the opinions of others matter.

I grew up with the fear of rejection. I never tried out for sports; because I feared I couldn't make the cut. I didn't date much in my teen years because I couldn't handle being turned down. 

But even if we have been rejected by our peers, passed over by a job promotion, or even rejected by our parents; remember Jesus will never turn away from you. John 6:37 Psalm 27:10

Jesus accepts us not because of our appearance 1 Samuel 16:7 , our intelligence or personality but because He choose us from the time of our conception. Before you were born, He loved you. Job 10:10-12  God did not accept you because of anything you had done but just because He loved you. 

Affirmation

 

“and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”  Matthew 3:17

The above verse is in the context of Jesus Christ's baptism by St. John. The interesting fact is Jesus had not begun His earthly ministry yet. He had not yet healed anyone. Nor has He performed His first miracle. He had not preached any sermon. God, the Father reassured His Son that His pleasure was not tied to performance.

The Gospels is far more about what God wants to do in and through us than what we do for Him. He chose us as sons and daughters not because of our resume but because He longed to have a relationship with us. Our actions never cause His affection to change.

We often affirm people based on their actions or acknowledgments. There is nothing wrong with praising your child when they make a 3-pointer or make the honor roll. But they need to know when he fails, you are still proud of them. Their value is not based on their performance.

Find ways to affirm your family, co-workers, and friends for who they are as what they do. Drop a note in your child's lunch box telling them why you love hanging out with them. Send an email to a coworker telling how much you value their friendship.

Be like your heavenly Father and affirm someone today for who they are.