Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Casting Crowns "Jesus, Friend of Sinners"


Last month I went to the Casting Crowns/Matthew West concert. It was a great night of worship. Casting Crowns sang a song called "Jesus, Friend of Sinners". I am not a huge fan of CC, but this song caught my attention. The lyrics are so convicting and true in each of our lives:

Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swingJ

Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand

Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of these

Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees

No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast

Yeah...

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

The first couple of lines Mark Hall sings convicted me right away: " We cut down people in Your name but the sword was never ours to swing". I do that. I judge people, I criticize others, I see myself better than others, but that's not my job. My job is to love like Jesus. He didn't hang out with people who were perfect; he was often around "the least of these". He didn't judge-He loved. Just think, as Christians, if we all loved others instead of judging them, how much better would the world be?

So much better.

I am so guilty of doing this. I look at other Christians and criticize their lifestyle choices and question their relationship with God, but that is not my job. We look around but don't look up. If only we could remind ourselves all the time of our job as Christians. WE are the least of these. We are not any better than anyone else. Jesus died on the cross for us. Just because we are saved doesn't mean we get to judge others. We are not in that authority and God will do that someday. Without Jesus' death of cross, we would not be forgiven. But thankfully we are. So why do I judge others so quickly when I am in the same boat? I am still sinful. But my sins have been forgiven.

It's so easy to judge. So easy to hold grudges. So easy to hate. But we have seen the power of love-selfless love. 

Lord,

    You are so good to us even though we do not always share your love. We judge and hurt others, often pushing them away from You. Help us to keep our minds and hearts set on You and how You love. Teach us to love unconditionally. Humble our hearts to help us remember where we would be without You. We are the least of these. May we be quick to love our neighbors and slow to judge. Give us hearts like Yours.

With Blessings,

            Heather