As I was driving home from a church event and dinner with some new friends, I felt such a peace and comfort in my soul that one only gets when feeling completely overfilled with blessings. It was the kind of feeling that makes you want to shout for joy, to sing your heart out in praise to Jesus because He is just SO GOOD.
I called my mom as I headed home (as I always do), both of us so happy because we had such a great night surrounded by wonderful friends. After we hung up, I turned up the radio and just let the songs sink in and belted my heart out. And then this song came on. And Jesus broke my heart in about five minutes.
The words were like a gut punch. A slap in the face. A bring you to your knees (except not while you are driving, of course!) kind of break.
Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to you, but they're tripping over me.
If you were to just sit and let those words soak in, oh what heartbreak you might feel. I'm not talking of the heartbreak that makes you feel ashamed or judged, but the heartbreak of knowing that we will never reach the kind of perfect that He is. This is the kind of heartbreak that is GOOD because it reminds us of how important it is for us to truly love.
What if we were to let go of our own (unintentional & intentional) selfishness and pride and allow ourselves to feel the kind of love that Jesus has for us, for all of our neighbors? There is not one person that does not deserve grace or mercy from us. While we go through our own troubles, we can still humble ourselves to love someone else because we are no more important than them. Christ has given us the power we need to reach the lost, the broken, & the lonely. He gives us the tools every day and all He asks is that we seek to have hearts like His. We are all no higher than the other. We are all no better than the other.
So, what is stopping us from living like Jesus? Humility. We aren't asking ourselves to love like Jesus. His love is the only kind of love that will reach the ones who feel unloved, outcasted, the lost-costs. BUT WE, TOO, CAN HAVE THAT KIND OF LOVE. Our God will give us that love if we ask for it. AND WE MUST SHARE THAT LOVE WITH EVERYONE.
Let our hearts be led by MERCY. Help us reach with open hearts and open doors.
Oh, Jesus, friend of sinners, break out hearts for what breaks yours.
Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we
judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and love like
You did
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours
You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet
'Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet
