The addict, the prostitute, the person talking to themselves on the street, they were someone’s child once. They’re still someone’s child. "Those people" were decided on before the foundation of the world. Just like me. Just like you. They’re desired by God. Maybe not by us or by society but God, He wants them. He wants them and passionately pursues them.
Even now, in the middle of their addiction, psychosis, blackout or trick. Jesus loves them. Passionately.
Grace. What is the limit for grace? The Christian cutoff? Christians draw a line in the sand between a child neglected and those whose poor choices caused their condition.
Is that how Jesus dealt with you? What was your condition when He found you?
We don’t know anything about the choices of these broken souls. We don’t know what horrific storms they’ve survived, their circumstances, loss, demons or demise. We don’t know the abuse, the torture, the rape, the genetics or their generational curses. We don’t know, yet so often we decide.
Who decided on you?
We know nothing about these people, yet we throw judgement around like confetti. Do we even remember the countless things we’ve been forgiven? Those memories we don’t talk about, carefully hidden in a box we’ve neatly tucked under our bed. You know the one, and I know mine.
What if we’d walked through the nightmare, they’ve called life? Would we have a fractured mind and damaged soul? How bad does your reality have to be to drive you to the place where demons hold you captive, for all the world to see?
Would I have survived at all?
Have we considered that this person might be the very reason we’ve been brought into The Kingdom? That we’re meant to be a living, breathing example of Jesus Christ? Compassion, love, grace, kindness and mercy is supposed to flow through us like a babbling brook! We’ve always been meant to give this away. It’s what was given to us. Was grace only reserved for the ones who sinned like us? Isn’t it also for the people Jesus saved us from becoming?
What if all of Heaven is shouting, YOU! This is part of your assignment. God chose you! Go love that person. Yes, that one! The dirty one. The one with the track marks. Hug them! Tell them they have worth! Tell them who Jesus is and why He came. Tell them all that you've been forgiven for. Show them the love of Jesus and share with them the simple gospel!
Or perhaps that’s not it at all. Maybe I have it all wrong. What if it’s not about them? What if it’s about us? What if we're the students?
Maybe "those people," the ones we step over and never ask their name, maybe they’re here for US. Here to teach us how to display grace and an all-inclusive love. Maybe we’re their assignment so we can understand the true heart of our Savior?
Is it our dry bones that need brought to life?
What if it’s because we don't have spiritual eyes to see. Do we see a drunk? A hooker? A junkie? Can we see Jesus in them at all? Are they here because we have a heart condition? Are our hearts still stone? Are we deaf and blind? Are we spiritually dead?
Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.
How much was I forgiven for? Will I look into the face of Jesus and say I walked out my salvation or did I sift through His sheep? Did I live for His agenda or love only those who make me comfortable? Did I judge what I saw, or did I love, as I was loved? Did I take the gospel to everyone?
"Those people" are included in Jesus’s everyone.
I pray we receive a greater measure of compassion, kindness, goodness and generosity. I pray we revisit our past before casting condemnation on another. I pray we experience a gratitude so deep and humbling, that it stirs a fire within our spirits that can’t be ignored. I pray taking action, is our only divine reaction.
I pray we remember; There, but for the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, go I.
[Author Unknown]
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