grace

a friend knocked at the door late tonight. drunk out of his mind, crying, asking for help. his marriage is falling apart, his family crumbling. he shared with me that he told his pastor everything and his pastor said "i can't keep making time for this - don't come back until things are better."

what? this blows my mind. to say that is to not understand jesus at all. hearing this gave me a new energy and commitment to not grow weary. to keep helping the helpless, to keep loving the unlovely. to stand for truth, but never stop extending grace.

this man needs grace. he needs to understand what it is. to know that jesus waits and longs for his broken return to the cross, and that the cross is enough.

let us not pretend to be perfect as the church. let us confess our sin openly to one another, without fear of condemnation or being cast off. let the church be the open arms of christ, willing to take in the sinner and love him back to recovery.