Most of the men at the rescue mission service were unkempt. Some were only half awake. Not one face indicated eager anticipation as I began to speak. I thought to myself, What can you expect? These men are skidrow alcoholics.

But then the attitude of Jesus came to my mind, and I said, “Men, people sometimes refer to you as hopeless derelicts, but they are wrong. God sees each of you as a worthwhile person with awesome potential. He is eager to forgive you, accept you, change you, and give you eternal life.”

I know an inner-city pastor who says that his people are bringing prostitutes to Christ. They have come to view these women as fellow sinners for whom Jesus died on the cross. By treating them respectfully, they are showing them that through faith in Jesus they can be forgiven, accepted, and changed.

The Pharisee in Luke 7:36-39 had a loveless attitude toward sinners that said, in essence, “Hopeless derelicts.” But mature believers “regard no one according to the flesh” (2 Cor. 5:16). They view everyone who is in Christ as completely clean. To them, even the worst sinner is a potential disciple of the Lord. They haven’t forgotten that without Christ we would all be “hopeless derelicts.”


Thinking It Through
In Luke 18:10-14, who appeared to be righteous?
Which man did Jesus say was justified? (v.14).
Which of the two men are you more like?

In Christ, the hopeless find hope.