Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
We need to be very careful about our attitude toward sinners. We should not have a “religious attitude” that ignores or belittles them because they are not living in accordance with God’s Word. Remember, at one time all of us were in the same condition that they are in now. There is no one who has not sinned, and there is no one who cannot be justified through faith in Christ (see Romans 3:23–24).
Show love to sinners without agreeing with their sinful lifestyle. If they never interact with Christians, how will they see Jesus? People whose lifestyles don’t agree with God’s Word don’t need to become our best friends or people with whom we spend excessive amounts of time, but neither should we treat them as though we are better than they are.
Jesus welcomed sinners without agreeing with their sinful ways. He spoke the truth to them in love, and love is what most people are hungry for. If we show love to people, we can draw them to Christ.
Ask the Lord to send sinners into your path so you can show them Christ’s love and pray for them. We should always have empathy and mercy for sinners and never judge them, because we don’t know what their lives have been like and why they make the choices they make.
Always keep in mind that mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13 NIV).
Prayer of the Day: Father, help me not to have judgmental attitudes toward sinners, but to love them and pray for them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
