Tune-In Tuesday: Jesus, Friend of Sinners

Welcome to Tune-In Tuesday! If this is your first time visiting on a Tuesday, I hope you will find this as a place to worship together. Each week, I share about a song that God is using in my life. One that is speaking to me in whatever season I may be going through. The invitation is for you to jump in and do it, too! This year my goal is nothing more than “toward Him.” Basically, my prayer is that we will all begin to seek Him like we never have before… starting this year. So for Tuesdays, pick a song that leads you to Him.

Here are the steps:

Pick a worship song, share it, and write about it… one that points your heart straight to Jesus.
Link up here using the linky tool at the bottom of this post. Use the name of your song as the title of your link. (If you haven’t done this before, feel free to email me with questions.) If you don’t have a blog, you can leave a comment sharing your song. ***Please use the permalink to your post, not your blog’s main site. Because of the specialized nature of this weekly series, any links that are not specifically for Tune-In Tuesday will be deleted.***
Visit other people’s blogs and let them know you stopped by.
Spread the word. Grab the button in the left column and add it to your post. That way, others can link up, as well. Tweet about it… Try to get others in on the conversation.
Worship! 🙂

——————————————————

Today’s song is Jesus, Friend of Sinners by Casting Crowns.

This song is so good. One day I hope to understand why we seem to spend more time and energy on the things we are AGAINST than the things we are FOR. Hurting people don’t want to come to a place where they assume they will be judged. Anyway, check out the lyrics and then keep reading below.

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
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
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 loved like You did

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
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

I started out trying to BOLD the phrases that stood out to me, but ended up trying to bold the entire song! 🙂 The message in this song is so incredibly powerful! We’ve got to stop pointing fingers at others and look inside of ourselves. The answer is not in telling THEM their opinions are wrong. The answer to changing the world is in changing ourselves first. People really don’t want to hear what we have to say until they know we care about THEM, not just about “converting” them. And as far as judging others, I’ve got enough flaws in me to keep me busy. No need to try to fix other people.

I’ve also been thinking a lot lately about the “churchy” language we use. So the title kind of stood out to me. People outside of the church don’t want to be called “sinners” who need to be fixed. If only we could get the message out that the band is not pointing at “sinners” outside of the church. It’s ALL of us. We are ALL sinners. Sinners who need a perfect God. Unfortunately, people hear the word “sinners” and automatically hear condemnation toward people who “don’t go to church.” I’m thankful Jesus is a friend of sinners. That means He is definitely my friend… and yours.

I’m also pretty thankful that Jesus loves THIS plank-eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided.