Light In Their Life

Matthew 11:18-19 - For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Continuing the train of thought from the post, Conformity, while we may struggle to conform our lives to the likeness of Christ, we must be able to look on others with compassion if they fall. Our own Lord Jesus was so merciful that He was able to invest time with those sick with sin and understood His role as their Great Physician.

Mark 2:15-17 - And as He reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and His disciples, for there were many who followed Him. And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Christ allowed His own character to be disparaged despite His blamelessness so that He might be able to reach those in need of His love. He sat with them, He talked to them, He listened to them, and He taught them. He served the people and offered a means of salvation to all who were willing to hear His voice and follow Him.

While we may struggle and suffer to be like Jesus in a society that is increasingly not interested in Him, we must not let that prevent us from showing understanding and love to others. Our compassion can transform someone’s day or even their life. If we find ourselves tempted to judge someone for not living the way we do, let us consider that they may be suffering in a way that we cannot imagine and have a history more heart wrenching than our own. Showing a small amount of Christlike love could be a beam of light in their life that illuminates the path towards Christ.