A New Day

JUST AS I AM CAN BE

By: Pastor Johnie Akers 

Luke 7:39, “Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, ‘This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.’” Tony Campolo once wrote of a college class he taught where one of his students commented that, “Jesus never met a prostitute.” Dr. Campolo thought, “Here’s my chance. I can show this guy a thing or two about Jesus and about the New Testament.” “Yes, He did,” I responded. “I’ll show you in my Bible where . . .” The young man interrupted the professor. “You didn’t hear me, Doctor. I said Jesus never met a prostitute.” Tony Campolo once again protested and reached for his New Testament. He started to leaf through the pages of his Bible searching for those passages which showed Jesus forgiving the “fallen woman.” Once again, the persistent student spoke out, this time with a touch of anger in his raised voice. “You’re not listening to me, Doctor. You aren’t listening to what I am saying. I am saying that Jesus never met a prostitute. Do you think that when he looked at Mary Magdalene he saw a prostitute? Doctor, listen to me! Jesus never met a prostitute!” Then it dawned on Tony Campolo, what his student was saying. When Jesus looked on such women, or any person for that matter, He didn’t see them as they were; He saw them as they could be. Listen friend, every person has destiny and purpose. No matter who you are, no matter what mistakes you have made in life (and we all have messed up) always remember, you are no accident. You are a unique person with unique gifts and abilities and God loves you. He does not merely view you in the light of your past or present circumstances, but in the glorious future you have. He sees you, not as you are, but as you can be. Jesus never viewed the woman referenced in our text today in the same fashion as the Pharisee. But He viewed her as what she would become as an instrument of God’s grace. He views you the same way. Forsake the context of your life in the perspective of past failures, and move into the realm of a future of hope, with this and each new day.