Thought for the Week

As Jesus ministered to people, the response of those who claimed to know God was revealing, Luke records:

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2

 We may be critical of those leaders but one of the easiest things to do is to see what is wrong in others. When we do this we are doing something altogether different from what Jesus did!  This can prevent us from wanting to tell people about Jesus. 

 Chris Dikana is the National Pioneer of The Rooftop in South Africa.  Recently, while traveling with him, I heard Chris preach at a large Methodist church.  During his powerful and engaging sermon Chris told a moving story, tragically it was true!

 He told us about a prostitute who, one night, felt so ashamed of what she did that the next morning, Sunday, she spent a long time trying to find some clothes that she felt would be appropriate to wear to go to church and be released from her shame.

 As she entered the church, hoping to be set free from her guilt, she was ‘welcomed’ by a leader from the church who said to her ‘you can’t come in here dressed like that’!   You can imagine the consequences this had for the women seeking release!

 A thought for this week.  If you don’t like what you see when you look at the people you are among, ask Jesus to help you to see them as He sees them.