HH Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
A lot of Christian people never come to know Jesus as the friend of sinners, and as a result, they live with a figurative stiff neck. The walk with their heads up and above others giving the impression that they are the “holier than thou”. But who God are you serving? Jesus sat with them and minister to them. He ate with them and travel in the crowds with them. So who are you to judge another?
There have certainly been times in my journey with Jesus when I’ve felt this way, and maybe you have too. We can find ourselves worn out, in pain, and limited, not because God is asking too much of us, but because we are insisting on carrying too much. Instead of letting Jesus carry our weights by His grace, we are often convinced we have to do it ourselves.
God knows all about our oversize egos and undersize strength. He is far more understanding and far less condemning than most people give him credit for. This is so true among the brethren that condemns others for the covering up of their own sins, The Bible tells us that if we cover our sins we will not prosper. Let that soaks in for a minute and understands what is taking place in our lives. You are not David a man after the heart of God.
King David said it this way:
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14
Jesus is the friend of sinners. That means He has an ongoing relationship with us; He is continually committed to our well-being. It seems a lot of times we are okay with Jesus saving us, but we think we have to sustain ourselves without Him. “Thanks for saving me, Jesus! I’ve got it from here!” Then the weight starts to crush us, and we wonder what we’re doing wrong.
Jesus is not just the Saviour — He’s the sustainer.
He’s not just the author of our faith — He’s the finisher, the One who perfects and completes and carries our faith through to the end. The more we come to know Jesus as the friend of sinners, the more we will be able to truly find rest for our souls.
Ask yourself, What unnecessary weight am I carrying today? What burdens have I made my own that God never intended for me?
Think for a minute how you condemn others and you are not living better than them. Think about how you “turn up your nose” when others pass near to you and you are not better than them. Ask yourself if that is what God intended for you to do to those you want to preach the word to and bring them to the saving grace of Christ. I want to remind us that the church is a hospital and as an example, The Mystical Order and Starlight of Israel are testimonies to this statement. Come as you are and let God make the changes in your lives. Our duty is to blow the trumpet and not to condemn. That is not your job. He did not make you a judge over His people, but we are watchmen is action and words. Watch and warn is the ORDER of every believer.
My friends call me Rich, I don’t have money, but I have Jesus. I have always loved life. I love to live in the moment, to savour experiences. Laughter, conversation, friendship — it’s beautiful. Life wasn’t meant to be a solo. It’s a duet. It a quartet. It’s a choir. I believe the quality of life depends on the quality of our relationships. People bring so much purpose. Everyone needs a friend. Good friends make the valleys easier and the mountain tops so much better.
My hope for this message is for you to be challenged to find friendship with Jesus and to use that friendship to pilot your relationships with the people around you. Don’t let fear keep you from opening your hearts and lives to others. Befriend Jesus, befriend others, and connect with people regardless of where they are on their journey.
All of us need Jesus, and all of us can find Him.
