(10/365) One of "THOSE" People

"those" people 
definition: the groups we label and judge based on

• gender
• sexuality
• religious affiliation (or none)
• race
• nationality
• political leanings
• (fill in the blank)

for example, if I mention Pharisees what comes to mind?

go ahead, take a minute and think about it, 

make a mental list

mine would include:

Jewish religious leaders

learned men 

men zealous to protect their religion

(and the way of life they knew)

Old Testament law followers 

the men offended most by Jesus' teachings

the men who sought to trap Jesus 

the men who wanted Jesus dead because He claimed to be God's Son

today I read a verse that made me stop 

 "At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.' " Luke 13:31

wait-

some Pharisees were concerned about Jesus' life?

some Pharisees went out of their way to warn Him He needed to move on?

some Pharisees were "good guys"?

they weren't ALL the same?

prejudice is an ugly thing

it is not fair or right to judge anyone based on a label

as a matter of fact, it is not my place to judge anyone,

especially based on a man made, assigned "grouping"

When God looks at me, He does not see  

an "Ellis" 

a "Bondurant"

a woman 

a mother

a graying brunette

an American 

a church attender

a good person

a Gentile

or any other label

save this one:

His child

once I was dead, now I am alive

once I was God's enemy, separated from Him by my sin, 

now I am His

I am one of those people who believe in the saving power of God's love, grace and mercy

I also believe God's forgiveness and redemption are freely available to anyone who chooses to accept it, even "those" people who seem "least likely" to make that decision

Ephesians 2:1-10

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."