DAWN

Several years ago, I was going to a homeless encampment to visit with the people there. I developed a friendship with a man named Dean and I really enjoyed talking with him. It was interesting, and heartbreaking, to hear some of the stories these people shared. I tried to understand how someone could end up living on the streets this way; after all, many of these folks had been much like myself in many ways. With some, alcohol and/or drugs had led them here. For others, the loss of a job or divorce and depression.

One evening I was talking with a small group when a young lady approached. I could not help but notice how pretty she was, despite being dirty and a bit disheveled. Dean introduced her as Dawn and then said, “she’s a crack whore.” She was standing right there but did not say anything. I was shocked. I thought he might have been joking but he told me that indeed, she was a crack whore. She seemed to okay with what he said but I could not understand how. I told him he should not say that, but he insisted that she was, and she knew it.  

The two of them talked for a few minutes and then he asked if I would give her a ride home. I wish my next thoughts were different, I am ashamed to admit this, but my first thought was, what if someone sees me? How would this appear? Regrettably, my thoughts were of myself. While I felt great compassion for Dawn, I was swept with feelings about how this might look.

We had barely started on our way when she asked me if I could buy her a hamburger. We went through a drive-through and she asked if I minded if she got a small fry. I felt this overwhelming compassion for this young lady so I told her she could get whatever she wanted. We got her a super-sized meal and continued. She offered me some of her food but I declined. I thought it might have been awhile since she ate and I wondered when she might eat again. She kept thanking me but I felt like I was getting the bigger blessing.

As we drove on, we talked. In response to one of her questions, I replied that I was a Christian. What she said next broke my heart. She said, “I like Jesus, He hung around with people like me.”

Talk about conviction. I had to fight back tears. This beautiful broken young girl saw in Jesus what most of us in the church fail to see: a Jesus that loves and seeks out people like her.

When I dropped her off on a dark and deserted looking street, I feared for her safety, but she insisted she would be fine. She thanked me again and said, “God bless you.” I left her there a changed man.

Every time I am in that area, I think about her. Is she still around? Is she still alive or did the streets claim another victim? I pray for her still to this day. I had reluctantly agreed to take her home, but I am so thankful I did. 

  

Dawn, wherever you are, Thank You!

In the book of Luke, Jesus told a parable about two men that went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, a church leader, and the other a tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by the Jews because they collected taxes for the Roman government which the Jews felt they should not have to pay. Many collected above and beyond what was owed to line their own pockets. The Pharisee prayed, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.” The tax collector on the other hand would not even look up but beat his chest and prayed thus, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Jesus then said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:9-14). 

  

James, the brother of Jesus, in his letter talks about the danger of treating some people better than others, based on their wealth or position, while treating the poor with disdain. He then talks about faith without works. He explains that our works do not gain our salvation but our works are a demonstration of our faith (salvation). In other words, doing good works does not save us but if we are saved, we will do good works because we are saved. James then gives two examples: Abraham, known and revered by the Jews as a righteous man, and then Rahab, a prostitute. She assisted the Jews in the conquest of Jericho. While she would have been looked down on because of her profession, she was spared when the city fell and later we read that she was in the ancestral linage of Jesus (James 2:1-26; Joshua 2:1-22, 6:1-25; Mat. 1:5).  

Lastly, the writer of the book of Hebrews states, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Heb. 13:1-2, NKJV).

I have often wondered if Dawn was an angel…

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Filthy Rags

Have you ever looked at a white towel or undershirt and thought about how white and pure is was? But then you saw it next to something whiter and more vibrant and then it looked dingy and dirty.

Our hearts are like that. When we compare ourselves to some of our friends or family, we think about how much more righteous we are than they. We do not use the course language they do or have quick tempers. Maybe we do not smoke or consume alcohol or exceed the speed limit; in a nutshell, we are good. On the flip side, when we see others who are living a more Godly life, perhaps a parent, pastor or neighbor, we don’t feel so pure or righteous.

So where exactly do we fit on the righteous scale?

I have good news and bad news. First, the bad news. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6, NLT). The Apostle Paul said, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23, NKJV). When we compare ourselves to others, we may look pretty good but when we compare ourselves to Christ Jesus, God’s standard of righteousness, we are disgusting and filthy. We can do nothing on our own to earn God’s favor or meet His standard.

The good news is this, when we receive Jesus, His righteousness is imputed to us. Paul said, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith” (Phi. 3:9, NLT). In the gospel that bares his name, John pinned, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, NKJV).

Jesus left His glory in heaven and came in human flesh, lived a sinless life and then died on the cross, meeting God’s righteous standard of judgement for sin, and became an acceptable sacrifice for our sin. Then He arose from the grave and is seated on the right hand of the Father where He makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25; Eph. 1:15-22). As Paul stated, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:8, NLT). 

   

Friend, do you feel good enough to earn a place in heaven? You aren’t. Do you feel filthy and unworthy to come before the Lord? That is how we all must come before Him. He does not expect anyone to get clean before we come before Him because we can’t. We come as we are and He cleanses us. What a loving and merciful God!

If you don’t know Him or you have strayed away from Him, come to Him today. Confess your sins and He will take you as you are and transform your life. This is the most important decision you will ever make and one you will never regret, I promise.

“Tend My Sheep…”

In the book of John, we read where Jesus, after His resurrection, gathered with His disciples. After breakfast, Jesus begin a dialogue with Peter, perhaps the most difficult conversation Peter ever had with the Lord.

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep…”

                                                                                      John 21:15-17  (NKJV)

I want to look at this passage and answer two questions: 1. Why did Jesus ask Him, “Do you love Me?” three times, and 2. What was Jesus trying to get through to Peter?

If we go back just a bit, we read that Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny Him three times. At this, Peter vehemently denied it.

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Gallilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

                                                                                      Matthew 26:31-35 (NKJV)                     

How soon we forget…

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood there with them and warmed himself.                                                                                                      Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.   

                                                                                      John 18:17-18, 25, 26 (NKJV)

John was nice. Matthew gives this account but includes, “So he,” being Peter, “went out and wept bitterly” (Mat. 26:75b, NKJV).

Looking back to Jesus’ questioning Peter, perhaps Jesus was reminding Peter of his betrayal and for each denial, Jesus asked him if he loved Him to offset his denials. I personally think this was the case. I also believe this was to solidify in Peter’s mind what he was called to do, regardless of the cost.      If given a second chance, would Peter be willing to die for Jesus?

So what was Jesus saying when He responded to Peter, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep?”

I think Jesus was reminding Peter what he had done but affirming that the past was behind him and his calling was before him. Peter was to boldly proclaim what he had seen and heard, and share that with others, any who would listen. That is just what he did and, in the end, it did cost him his life. While not recorded in Scripture, it is reported that Peter, who was to be crucified, asked that they crucify him upside down because he was not worthy to die like his Savior.

Friend, have you got a past that is weighing you down? Are you afraid Jesus can’t forgive you? Do you question whether He still loves you? Fear not! Jesus died on the cross for you, knowing your past but seeing your future. A future He has chosen for you. Warts and all, come to the Savior today and just like Peter, Go and tell others what great things God has done for you.