Considerations ~ A Friend For Sinners

God must reveal to my heart the wonder that Jesus is the friend of sinners (Luke 7:34) in order to show me the reality that I am a sinner in need of a friend!

It is then that I can know the joy of knowing the God who is “near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Ps 34:18), who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps 147:3), and who brings good news to the poor, binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to the captives, opens the prison to those who are bound, proclaims the year of the LORD’s favor, and comforts all who mourn (Is 61:1-2).

And, to make it possible for the holy God to actually be able to do these very things he so lovingly reveals, he “sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:10). No wonder Paul would exclaim so thankfully, “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (I Timothy 1:15).

What we call “the Christmas Story” is actually the historical record of Jesus Christ coming into the world to save sinners like you and me. What we live out this Christmas in relation to this work of God reveals whether we are one of Jesus’ friends who have experienced “such a great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).

© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)