Pure JesusSample

Jesus - Your Friend and Family

The Friend Formula

You know those infomercials on TV, now much more common on Facebook and Instagram? They try to sell you on the next best thing for your kitchen or the must-have gadget you didn't know you needed but can have for three easy payments of $29.99 (plus shipping and handling). Wouldn't it be awesome if they sold an as seen on TV kit to become a Friend of Sinners? Just pour the contents of one packet in a glass of water, stir, drink and voila! You can be a friend to anyone! But wait, there’s more! Order within the next five minutes and we’ll throw in a water bottle for free! 

If it were only that easy...

For you and me to be a friend of sinners exactly like Jesus was, is very improbable, but we're not completely incapable. When we don't see eye to eye with someone else, it's easy to pick fights or not say anything at all. We may be very aware of sin in someone else's life, but we think it's not our business to intervene. We may tell ourselves we're not the right person to bring it up and that someone more appropriate should. There's no easy formula on how to be a friend of sinners. Unfortunately, our fallen humanity gets in the way. But Jesus set a pretty good roadmap to follow, and it’s worth working it out in our lives. 

First, His regular communion with God the Father and understanding of the written promises in Scripture provided a solid foundation. It equipped Him, as it would for us, to go out into the world. Second, wherever He went, Jesus was intentional about keeping His spiritual "spidey senses" attentive and leaped into action when someone needed the kind of freedom only He could give. And lastly, Jesus put the relationship first, creating a safety zone that allowed for people to let down their defenses to the ministry of Jesus, and receive His help and healing. 

We can do the same. We can follow his example. Stay in communion with the Father and read the Bible. The more we experience the love of the Father and grow in understanding of His promises and His ways, the better equipped we are to be a friend who shows others the Jesus that does not condemn, but redeems and restores. 

Reflection:

From one stumbling fool to another, if doing what I mentioned above feels too hard, then ask the Lord for help. He can make you willing to do what He wants you to do, if you ask for it. It’s not about perfect execution of love. It’s not about being able to quote all the right Bible verses. Instead, seek to understand people first and ask God to lead you on what to do next. The goal is to point them to God and His Word in a life-giving way, the way somebody probably did it for you. Hearts are made for love, not judgment. Isn't yours?