Daily Diary - April 1st 2016

ARE YOU THROWING THE FIRST STONE?

There is a pattern of judgmental religion running rampant in the church of America today.  This is a place that makes sinners feel unwelcome and it doesn’t represent the true relationship we have with Jesus Christ. 

Mark 2:15-17 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.)¹⁶ But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?”

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them,“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

This judgmental state of religious people remains heavy in our world.  This is a mind-set that says our works can make us worthy of “position” to judge.  It is also stating that these “religious” people think they are without sin therefore it qualifies them to pass judgment on the ones that are clearly recognized as sinners. This is not true.

Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

This is clearly happening all around the church in America.  People are welcomed based on their ability to clean up their lives first, instead of accepting them as they are.  Jesus Christ came for the sinner, which in fact is everyone.  The bible tells us all have sinned and fall short of His glory.

Question:  Are you a sinner?  Do we love people even if they are known to be sinners?

Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies!^[b]Pray for those who persecute you!⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.

To be able to love people the way Jesus describes is often difficult.  It is a part of our Christian transformation from sinner to the righteousness of Jesus.  We are all sinners, therefore we are all one in the same and transforming ourselves. 

John 8:4-11“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.⁵ The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

⁶ They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said,“All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

⁹ When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman,“Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said,“Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Father God, we confess today that we are all sinners and in need of a savior.  We choose today to love our enemy the way that you ask us to in Your word in Jesus name Amen!

John 13:34-35 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.”