Loving Sinners

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 KNV


"My husband and I try to teach our daughters to love sinners," she said. In all fairness she was talking about a particular group of people who she referred to as sinners, but that isn't what she said. She said she teaches her daughters to love sinners. Sinners. Of course I wanted her to tell me who the sinners were. More than that I was curious who she thought she was. But I was happy that she teaches her daughters to love sinners....especially since I am one.
So who are the sinners? The Bible says that all have sinned. That means everyone. How quick we are to follow that up with statements like, "Well, I have never....." Maybe you haven't murdered someone. Maybe you haven't cheated on your spouse. Maybe you never robbed a bank. But maybe you have lied. Maybe you have coveted the possessions of another. Maybe you knew you should have done something for someone and you didn't do it. Guess what? That makes you a sinner.
According to James 2:10 KJV, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." That means if you break one law, you are as guilty as anyone else. That isn't very comfortable is it? We don't like that. We live in a world of degrees. You don't just commit murder, it's either first, second, or third degree. Someone who steals a lawnmower doesn't get the same punishment as someone who steals a famous painting from a museum. We make excuses for telling "little white lies" or envying our neighbor's new car. But God's ways aren't our ways.
So maybe you are like the rich young ruler or a devout Pharisee, who has managed to keep all the law. Are you a sinner? Have you ever failed to call someone when you knew you should? Have you ever been too stubborn to apologize? Have you ever spread gossip? James 4:17 KJV is the mirror that always reflects our sinfulness, even when we don't realize it. "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." So who are the sinners? All of us, each and every one.

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