Upper Loft Meditation - Luke 7

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners’.” - Luke 7:34 For many people in the United States, today marks a day of protest and conflict. Today marks the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision enabling the legality of abortion. This is also a day of challenges. One challenge is… Are you a friend to sinners?

How many times when we talk with co-workers, people visiting our church or our home, or sinners does the discussion tone change from a mutual discussion to the “christian” talking TO or AT the sinner, trying to fix that sinner’s attitude about some type of sin. Christians around the world talk about loving the sinner, while hating the sin. The question today becomes… is the love actually coming through? Are you a “friend to sinners”?

Many people see believers as judgmental, prideful, and quick to fault others. Biblical Christians today have an image problem. Jesus had an image problem also. The early believers were upset because they thought he was too easy on sinners. They thought Jesus was too friendly with sinners. Jesus was repeatedly called a “friend to sinners”. How ironic, that in the current era of Christianity believers are seen in the opposite light. Are you a “friend to sinners”?

How can we become more of a friend to sinners?

1. Look within - Many times the things we ‘can’t stand’ in others are buried deep within us.
2. Look to Christ - Read how Luke portrays the relationship between Christ and sinners.
3. Stop avoiding the sinful people - Ask God to help you with hospitality towards sinners.

Do we care enough to reach out to others, without an agenda? Are you a “friend to sinners”?

Read the Spanish Version.