Did Jesus "Hang Out" with Sinners? Not Really

How often have you heard someone say, “Jesus hung out with sinners”?

 

“Hanging out” typically means we’re enjoying someone's company with no particular agenda. And that reflects the kind of Jesus many people want, a buddy who accepts them as they are, never judging them. 

But Jesus always had a godly agenda, no matter who He met with.

 

For example:

When Jesus visited Zacchaeus and his sinful friends, His mission was to call sinners to repentance, and there were dramatic results (Luke 5:27-32).

When Jesus spent time with Matthew and a crowd of ungodly sinners, His purpose was “to call sinners” (Matthew 9:10-13).

When Jesus spoke with the woman at the well, He wasn't simply chatting. He confronted her with her sinful lifestyle and shared the gospel (John 4:4-42).  

In fact, a crowd once asked Jesus to hang out with them, and He said He couldn't because His mission was to preach the gospel (Luke 4:42-43). 

 

✓ Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus as sinful by claiming He hung out with sinners. 

✓ The modern world tries to define Jesus as popular and non-confrontational by saying He hung out with sinners. 

 

But the real Jesus said this to His unbelieving brothers: “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil” (John 7:7).

 

Jesus didn't come to hang out. He came to hang on a cross and save our souls from evil (John 15:13).

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For more insights:

Saving Grace versus Saving Face...a true story about my husband

Spiritually Weak People Don't Repent

Claiming that Sin Is No Big Deal

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What to Do When It Feels Like God Is Silent

Have you ever felt God was silent when you desperately needed answers, comfort, or direction?

The psalmists sometimes felt this way (e.g., Psalm 13).

If this happens, we should first search our hearts to make sure we're not excusing or justifying sin in our lives (Proverbs 28:13). Are we ignoring something God's Word tells us to do (James 1:22)?

But that's not always the case. Sometimes God tests us to see if we'll keep seeking Him with patience and perseverance (Galatians 6:9; Philippians 4:6).

But the most common reason we feel this way is because we are trusting our feelings and allowing ourselves to get stressed. That's when we need to remember that God never actually leaves us.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

When we feel like God is distant, we should continue seeking His guidance through Scripture and godly counsel, remembering His promise: "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me" (Jeremiah 29:13). 

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For more insights see Thankfulness - An Important Aspect of Prayer and 5 Ideas for More Effective Prayer.

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. Find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an ebook on other sites.

 

 

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Error and Truth Travel the Same Highway

“Error and truth travel the same highways, work in the same fields and factories, attend the same churches, fly in the same planes and shop in the same stores. So skilled is error at imitating truth that the two are constantly being mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which Abel. We must never take for granted anything that touches our soul's welfare.” A. W. Tozer (Source)

Even though this Tozer quote was written over 75 years ago, it's especially relevant today.

Most people are not careful about “Christian” resources. In fact, some of the most popular books, movies, and teachings enjoyed by Christians are filled with errors. 

It's so important that we not follow that trend. But we need to realize that if we're careful and deliberate, we're going to be called legalistic and “picky.” 

But let's consider Paul's attitude to such things. He was an anointed apostle preaching God's divinely inspired Word, but he wasn’t offended when the Bereans tested his teaching with Old Testament prophecies. 

He called them noble.

“The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” See Acts 17:10-12

Let's be noble Christians and “never take for granted anything that touches our soul's welfare.”

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If you haven't had a chance to check out these resources, I encourage you to do so:

Are Henry Cloud's Boundaries Teachings Biblical?

From VeggieTales to Situational Ethics 

Are You Defending Errors about Christianity?

Beware of the IF Gathering for Women – I've updated this article due to some errors in my first publication.

Dallas Jenkins Explains the Story Behind the Chosen

 
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God's Love is Unreasonable...In a Good Way

God is unreasonable!

Just read the story of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20,24,32).

God carefully and lovingly warned the people by:

• Calling them His “treasured possession.”
• Emphasizing His power with thunder, lightning, and glory.
• Speaking the Ten Commandments aloud to them.

God had Moses confirm His commands by: 

• Writing them down and reading them again to the people.
• Sprinkling blood on the people as a reminder of their promise to God.

The people:

• Promised three separate times to do all that God asked.

Then Moses went up on the mountain, and God’s glory settled like “a consuming fire.” 

But within forty days, the Israelites made a golden calf and worshiped it as their god!

Unreasonable rebellion!

But not as unreasonable as God's love. Despite this blatant, unjustified rebellion, God continued to love and guide these stubborn people to the Promised Land.

What an accurate picture of human history…your history and mine…our unreasonable rebellion, God’s unreasonable love.

When we make Christ our Lord, we see the wonder of His love, and we cannot help but listen to Him, learn from Him, enjoy Him, and serve Him. Let's take some time today to thank Him for His love.

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Be encouraged by these one-minute devotions: 

7 Important Truths about God's Love

Beyond Our Full Understanding  

If you've purchased Wisdom for Life, I suggest you read or reread Day 14 to reinforce the truths in this devotion. 

If you haven't purchased Wisdom for Life, check out the sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.

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Shallow Enough for a Child, Deep Enough for a Scuba Diver

The Bible is like an ocean that’s shallow enough for children to wade in but deep enough for adults to swim.(1)

Small children can understand enough of the gospel to make a genuine profession of faith. But the truths of God are deep and abundant, and no matter how long we’re saved, there’s always something new and wonderful to learn. 

I have a master's degree from seminary, but I’ve learned far more from life and personal study than I learned getting my degree. And no matter how deeply I dive into God's Word, I never reach the bottom. 

The knowledge of God is more valuable than any other knowledge. It’s eternally important. Let’s never underestimate the benefits of studying God’s Word, teaching it accurately, and letting it transform our hearts.

So, let’s put on our scuba gear and dive deep into God's Word! 

It dwells in us: Colossians 3:16 

It’s eternal: Isaiah 40:8 

It’s God-breathed: 2 Timothy 3:16 

It’s a light that guides us: Psalm 119:105 

It helps us stop sinning: Psalm 119:11 

Well, I could go on and on, but this is a one-minute devotion and it would take me a book to fully describe it. 

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I encourage you to read: We Need It: God's Word and We Need It: More of God's Word.

(1) I heard a similar analogy about wading and swimming in God's Word years ago, but I'm not sure of the source.

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He Sees Our Sins

"When God looks at you, He only sees Jesus. He doesn't see your sins or imperfections."  ~ popular half-truth saying

I cringe a bit when I hear this statement. It's not found in Scripture and it totally misrepresents our relationship with God.

When we become Christians, we are "in Christ." We're forgiven of every sin, but God still sees our sins and weaknesses as well as our strengths. If He couldn't see these things, He couldn't help us deal with them.

God accepts us as we are, but He expects us to grow in wisdom and faith as we walk with Him. We'll never become perfect here on earth. We will continually be seeking to renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 10:38; Ephesians 5).

As a loving Father, God convicts and disciplines us when we sin (Hebrews 12).

"Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent." ~ Jesus, Revelation 3:19

That's the kind of God we have and the kind we need! So let's take our renewal seriously (Philippians 2:12-13).

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To read about another half-truth misunderstanding, see: Does God "Forget" Our Sins?

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an e-book on other sites.

 

I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.

 

 

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Only 4% Are Saved Past This Age

Studies show that 86% of American Christians came to Christ before age 14, 10% between ages 15–30, and only 4% after age 30 (source).

I knew these statistics when I felt the Lord prompting me to share Christ with my 88-year-old aunt. Even though she'd gone to church her whole life, nothing about her reflected Christ. She was a difficult person, not afraid to cut you to the quick if she didn't like something you said.

I could only imagine what she would do if I suggested she'd never accepted Christ.

But I felt God was prompting me to do it, so I shared the basic truths of salvation with her and asked if she wanted to pray to receive Christ as her Lord and Savior. I was genuinely surprised when she admitted she'd never asked Christ to be her Lord and asked me to pray with her.

And I believe her conversion was genuine because it changed her.  Knowing Jesus made her kinder for her few remaining years of life. 

Many years after this happened, I shared it with my 11-year-old granddaughter and she said I needed to share it with others so Christians would be braver about sharing the gospel.

She was right. And I've tried to honor her request. That's one reason I've written this devotion. May it encourage you to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Don't let a person's age or personality stop you from sharing Christ with them. You might just beat the odds!

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For additional insights, see False Views about "Real Evangelism" and Jesus Asked Questions.

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. Find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an ebook on other sites.

 

I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.

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Who Wants a King?

The people wanted a king. They didn't like being "different" from the ungodly nations that surrounded them (1 Samuel 8:6-7). 

Samuel, God's anointed prophet, explained it wasn't God's will for them to have a king and they'd give up many of their freedoms if they had one. 

"But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they said. 'We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations.…" (8:19-20). 

The people thought their request was reasonable: Samuel's sons weren't worthy to lead (as if God couldn't raise up a worthy prophet to follow Samuel). And a king would help them win wars (as if God's help wasn't enough).

The people wanted conformity more than they wanted God (8:6-9).

We do this same thing when we refuse to stand against culturally acceptable sins or when we think being a Christian should make us popular. 

But Scripture warns against conformity:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

We can fit in or we can serve King Jesus. It's our choice.

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You can do a Bite Size Bible Study on this devotion HERE. 

 

For other one-minute devotions on the benefits of non-conformity, check out:

The Choice Is Yours 

Was Jesus Likable?

I'm Swimming Upstream

It's also a great time to buy Wisdom for Life because of the great sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.

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There Aren't Any "Secret Sins" – Luke 8:17

My granddaughter had a school assignment to write about several famous American tycoons from the late 1800s and early 1900s. She was surprised that they were generous philanthropists but they treated their employees badly.

While they were building universities and libraries, their employees were working in unsafe factories and making barely enough to survive. 

Some of these men's names are still associated with benevolence despite these glaring inconsistencies. That's because truth is not always evident in this life.

But "all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all" (Luke 8:17).

So what does this have to do with us?

If we think we are hiding a secret sin, we aren't.

If you are peeking at internet porno, cheating on your taxes, lying to your spouse, or doing anything sinful in secret, God sees. Secret sins damage our souls and damage our relationship with the Lord—even if no one finds us out.

With God's help, we can deny our sinful desires and reject all sinful temptations (Matthew 16:24; 1 Corinthians 10:13).

If you're dealing with a secret sin, I encourage you to confess your sin to a mature Christian and ask for prayer and accountability.

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This one-minute devotion has some additional insights:
5 Signs of a Fake Apology

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an ebook on other sites.

 

I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.

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The Person Who First Heard John 3:16

In John 9:13-16 some Pharisees bashed Jesus and insulted the man He'd healed of blindness, claiming Jesus could not represent God. 

But other Pharisees said, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” 

When Christians use the word pharisee, it's synonymous with greed, hypocrisy, legalism, and empty religion.

But not all Pharisees were the same. I was reminded of this while studying John 3. I'd never thought about the fact that a humble Pharisee was the first man to hear Christ's most well-known quote: John 3:16.

In John 3:1-21 the Pharisee Nicodemus came at night to ask Jesus questions. The majority of his fellow-Pharisees would have been shocked if they knew he'd done this. But he was open and listening, and Christ spoke life-changing words to him.

Later in John 7:14-52, the Pharisees wanted to silence Jesus by arresting him, but Nicodemus said they weren't being fair.

Finally in John 19:38-42, Nicodemus proved his love and respect for Jesus by helping Joseph of Arimathea give Jesus a proper burial after His crucifixion.

Sometimes, Christians who speak up for God's truth are falsely compared to Pharisees. If this happens to you, why not say “thank-you” and tell them about Nicodemus.

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See A One-Liner Pharisees Love Using for additional truths about this subject. 

This is the last in a series of six one-minute devotions based on John 9. If you'd like to read the full series, see Important Truths from John 9.

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