Thursday, 31 May 2012
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Jesus, Friend of Sinners
A tune and a tweet dominated the morning walk and worship time. The tune is from “Jesus, Friend of Sinners” has a number of those powerful lyrics.
Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swingOuch. How much damage has been done in the name of Christ by well-meaning or by just mean churchgoers? The toll is heartbreaking. Truly that sword was never ours to wield. The next few lines are just as powerful.
Jesus friend of sinners the truth’s become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over meNothing breaks my heart more than the thought that seekers of truth are tripping over me. I fear that my need to look good and righteous will disguise my desperate need for grace. I write a lot about grace. I get criticized by some for my fixation (in their opinion) on grace. But I believe that the single most important distinctive of Christianity is grace. That the Gospel is not what I can do for God but what He has done for me.
Jackie DeShannon sang that what the world needs most is love sweet, love. That is true with an addendum. What the worlds needs most is love sweet love…and grace. I can never live a life that is so perfectly good that people will see Jesus. But I can live a life that is honest, full of grace, love and kindness and from that life they might see Him. The tweet that added to my meditation today came from author Tim Keller. It perfectly summarized what God is doing in my heart.
The deeper the experience of the free grace of God, the more generous we must become.
So as I write about grace and begin to understand the miracle of grace I should begin to demonstrate what grace looks like to a hurting world. If I am receiving grace I must also give it. If I welcome the generous gift of grace I must become more generous. If I accept the gift of forgiveness I must forgive. If I marvel at God’s unfailing love I must also love others. That is what the doubting world is looking for from the church. Grace, forgiveness and love.
Instead we too often offer judgment, separation, division and even hate.
As Jesus faced the horror of the Cross He offered this command to His disciples.
So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. (John 14, NLT)
I ask myself as I write these words. Does my love prove that I am a follower of Jesus? Does my heart reveal that I comprehend the magnitude of His grace? Living out of grace is not a tiring burden. It is a joyous response of gratitude.
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yoursPraying that the Holy Spirit will break my heart for the things that breaks the heart of Jesus is a scary prayer. But that is the only honest response to God’s amazing grace.
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About the Author
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- From: daveburchett
- Name: Dave
- About Me: Dave Burchett is an Emmy Award-winning television sports director for Fox Sports, ESPN, and Jefferson Pilot Sports. Dave has directed Southeastern Conference basketball games for over twenty years. He has also directed Texas Ranger’s major league baseball telecasts for over twenty years and had the thrill of televising one of Nolan Ryan's no-hit games and Ryan’s 300th win. He and his wife, Joni, are former staff members of Campus Crusade's Athletes in Action. They currently reside in Garland, Texas where Joni is a Special Education Coordinator specializing in elementary students. Dave and Joni are the parents of three sons.
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Comments (5)
This is so true. We are quick to judge, point fingers, and stand up to make sure this world stays "moral" but we forget the heart of the issue-the Gospel! In my time as a waitress, I've had "Christian" groups come in and be rude to me, yet leave me these little pamphlets on how I should come to Christ. The biggest thing they could've done was to just love me. They ruined their witness in how they looked down on me because their food wasn't just right.
On that same note, although I am also guilty of being judgmental and unnecessarily harsh, some people consider it close-minded and hateful to simply confirm the Bible's authority in our lives. When we refuse to budge on biblical teachings, some take that as being unloving, which is not the case. So it's good to distinguish between a situation where we are being unloving and unkind, and a situation where someone simply hates God and therefore hates us.
Christians don't like this kind of talk, that's why you got almost no comments.
so, if I stop sinning will Jesus stop being my friend? what an asshole! What if I sin so much I get forgiven for everything I could possibly do, and then am no longer capable of sinning? What do I do then? Get other people to sin in ways I would never even dream of? ON IT
I've blathered in just the opposite way, but we followers are also coming around to more unconditional love in areas difficult to deal with. And love one another? Ouch. Because I need to. Good post.
Well said, keep it coming.
peace
Mark