There seems to be an over-abundance of hateful, filthy-mouthed, vile, immoral, slandering, lying, violent, unethical, arrogant, profane, rebellious, unruly, selfish, and  outright ungodly people in this world. We are seeing today the very worst of humanity and it continues to spiral downward. But what does God see? I imagine as He surveys the planet and observes those who live this way, He thinks,

“Oh my! They need my Son!”

But then He also sees those who are believers falling prey to similar temptations? It could be that He then thinks,

“Oh my! They have moved away from My Son!”

Now, which of these two scenarios do you think would disappoint and grieve Him more? Let’s say that you observe your friend’s child doing something terribly wrong. Would you be disappointed in the child? Of course you would! But what if you saw your own child doing the very same thing? That would not only is disturbing, but heartbreaking.

We are very quick to speak out against and condemn the unbelievers of this world for their perversions and failures of all sorts. But then, what about our own? Could it be that we should be more understanding toward those that have not yet chosen to join us in our faith? Could it also be that we should remember that we were once desperately lost and in need of God’s mercy?

In 1 Timothy 1:8-14, Paul speaks of this very thing. He writes in verses 12-16, “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

God looks at those who are not His and says,

“They need my Son!”

This is our example. We too should look at them and think,

“They desperately need God’s Son … just as I once did.”