"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matt 9:10-13)
When I read this passage earlier today, I had to ask myself: Do I hang out with outcasts? Can I be found among the riffraff?
Sometimes I think that too many of my friends look and act too much like I do. But perhaps not. There's B, who seems to go home drunk more often than he comes home sober. There's R, who is so emotionally needy that she might as well be 5, rather than the 60-whatever she really is. There's A, whose Dad has had--what is it now? four?--affairs within the last year. There's V, who has messed up so many times, in so many ways, that his life looks like you put a goat in a china store. There's D, who had two babies before she was married, lived like a lonesome little alley cat, screams at her four kids, and dresses like she belongs in a strip joint. There's N, who has piercings in places God never intended to be pierced. There's C & D, who can't hold down a job for any length of time, and who live in a junky travel trailer because they can't afford anything else, and who really should take a shower a little more often--say, once a month or so.
Most of 'polite society' (whatever that is) wouldn't want to be found chatting with most of these people. But these people are folks I know quite well. And I'm realizing more and more that what you see on the outside isn't important. The packaging, the layers, the look, the stuff, the surroundings, the circumstances... these are inconsequential.
The truth is: everyone looks the same if you can see past the packaging. The truth is: everyone has a soul. The truth is: God created every one of us in His own image. The truth is: every last person on this planet matters to Him. The truth is: every last person on this planet should matter to me. The truth is: everybody needs to hear about Jesus. The truth is: everybody needs to know His love. The truth is: it's up to me (and you) to show them His love. The truth is: we're all sinners that need a Savior.
I think I need more friends among the riffraff.
When I read this passage earlier today, I had to ask myself: Do I hang out with outcasts? Can I be found among the riffraff?
Sometimes I think that too many of my friends look and act too much like I do. But perhaps not. There's B, who seems to go home drunk more often than he comes home sober. There's R, who is so emotionally needy that she might as well be 5, rather than the 60-whatever she really is. There's A, whose Dad has had--what is it now? four?--affairs within the last year. There's V, who has messed up so many times, in so many ways, that his life looks like you put a goat in a china store. There's D, who had two babies before she was married, lived like a lonesome little alley cat, screams at her four kids, and dresses like she belongs in a strip joint. There's N, who has piercings in places God never intended to be pierced. There's C & D, who can't hold down a job for any length of time, and who live in a junky travel trailer because they can't afford anything else, and who really should take a shower a little more often--say, once a month or so.
Most of 'polite society' (whatever that is) wouldn't want to be found chatting with most of these people. But these people are folks I know quite well. And I'm realizing more and more that what you see on the outside isn't important. The packaging, the layers, the look, the stuff, the surroundings, the circumstances... these are inconsequential.
The truth is: everyone looks the same if you can see past the packaging. The truth is: everyone has a soul. The truth is: God created every one of us in His own image. The truth is: every last person on this planet matters to Him. The truth is: every last person on this planet should matter to me. The truth is: everybody needs to hear about Jesus. The truth is: everybody needs to know His love. The truth is: it's up to me (and you) to show them His love. The truth is: we're all sinners that need a Savior.
I think I need more friends among the riffraff.
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