A Heart Like Jesus: The Vilest Offenders

A Heart Like Jesus: Murderers, Adulterers, Rapist, Gays, _________ (fill in the blank with what you consider vile)

Do you try to imitate Jesus? 1 John 2:6 says, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” Eternity is on the line here. How easy is it to intentionally push through a deep-rooted feeling of disgust or uneasiness or fear to show compassion? Do you ever push through that feeling and engage with someone such as a homeless person? An addict? A manipulator? A person with a turbine? An adult in a wheelchair with MS? Do you ever face your fear head on and engage in conversation with someone you know is a mess?

Jesus engaged with many: (I skimmed the 4 gospels and made a short list)

1. Paul was a murderer and see what influence he had. Paul was not given up on.
2. Peter denied Jesus 3 times and rebuked Jesus and Jesus never gave up on him.
3. Jesus chose Matthew, a tax collector.
4. Jesus ate at Matthew’s banquet filled with tax collectors and sinners, Luke 5:27
5. Jesus stayed at Zacchaeus’ house, a wealthy tax collector. He was the guest of a sinner, Luke 19.
6. Jesus spoke to the woman at the well. A woman who was on her 6th relationship. Five husbands and her present relationship was not a husband.
7. Jesus defended the woman caught in adultery in John 8:3. The Mosaic Law commanded stoning, but Jesus was not a ‘giver-uper’. He gave her a second chance. 
8. Jesus healed people with leprosy who society would not even touch and who sent to live out of the city.
9. Jesus verbally prayed for the men nailing spikes in his hands to be forgiven. This is the best example of pushing through a feeling of the most vilest offender and forgiving them. 
10. Jesus engaged with two demon possessed men. 
11. Jesus touched the blind and mute.
12. Jesus said that because of their belief, “the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of” those who do not believe.
13. The day was unimportant compared to one’s soul. Jesus healed on the Sabbath.
14. Luke 6:27, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
15. Jesus was anointed by a sinful woman.
16. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees many times but he also ate with them in their home. Luke 14
17. Peter disowns Jesus and Jesus takes him back every time.
18. Jesus is gentle with Judas.
19. many, many more

Jesus says the workers are few in Matthew 9:37. Are you one of the few who will engage with these on this list or pass by and secretly think they are not worth it or someone else/agency will talk to them?

Matthew 12:20, a quote from Isaiah says, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” I try my best not to give up on bruised reeds or smoldering wicks. What if I am the spark they need to ignite their life for Jesus? 

Matthew 18:10-14, “Do not despise one of these little ones…leave the 99 and go look for the one who has wandered off…In the same way, you Father is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.”

What if I give up on the bruised and battered and hopeless ones? What if I give up trying to help someone stay on their journey? I can only choose for myself, but I can also encourage others (realizing that in the end, they are responsible for their own choice). Sadly, I know I fail many times at what I am writing about.

Did Jesus give up? No. He went to death, even death on a cross for me and you. What if the most vilest offenders (in my mind) are teeter tottering on the fence of giving their whole life to Christ and I am the one, with my attitude, that either a) shows them Christ and they want to know him more or b) sees an unloving Christian and does not see the point of following Christ if that is what is it about. What if I am the pivotal person for their decision? What happens if I fear and shrink back? 

Maybe I am an eternal optimist in the sense that no matter how messed up a person is, I have hope that they can change. 

What motivates you to have a heart like Jesus?