"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;"
1Tim 1:12-13
Beloved, we all have a past. For some, that past might be as recent as yesterday. Each of us can think back to things that we used to do and ways we used to live and hang our heads in shame. Thank the Lord that he has delivered us.
As others make that same transition, we must be mindful of the standard to which we hold them. We, who through the grace of God, have become dyed in the wool Christians can often look down our noses at those who are currently living reprobate lives but struggling toward the light. We can be very quick to tell them what they are doing is wrong instead of helping them to understand what is right.
There are two things that it is important that we remember. The first is that we were not always the saints that we have become. 1 Cor 6:9-10 contains a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God and then pointedly states in verse 11, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." Secondly, the same Savior to whom we owe our lives and who called us, calls others who are in the condition that was previously ours. In Matt 9:10-13, Jesus was having a meal with sinners. When the Pharisees questioned it, Jesus replied, "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick (do)."
Jesus came to heal and forgive. As his disciples, let us emulate the master and not hinder those who would come to him, but help. Let those who were served and saved, serve and save others.
Loving Like Jesus,
Lee
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