We're All the Same

I had a discussion with GiBee and her husband this weekend about grace and mercy. The Sunday School lesson was about giving and about whether we had the right to decide who DESERVED for us to give to them.
It really made me think. See we as Christians tend to have the habit of judging. We look at the druggie on the side of the street and say they don't deserve our help. After all, they did get themselves into that situation right?
The thing is that Jesus said He came to seek and to save the LOST. That druggie on the side of the street is LOST. A slave to sin. And Jesus came to save the drug addicts, the murderers, the rapists...you see where I'm going.
I thought more about this subject this morning when I was reading the Bible. I read a passage in Titus 3:

1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Did you see what verse 3 said? It said that WE were also sometimes foolish, disobedient, DECEIVED, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. Paul said that we were in the same boat as the sinners that we tend to look down on. He said that we found the kindness and love of God our Savior. That kindness and love changed us. That is why we are to show others to the way of righteousness in KINDNESS and LOVE.
No, we can't condone sin. I'm not trying to say that at all. But we must show others the truth in the RIGHT way. And that way is the way of love.
All people, whether it's the moral person on the church pew or the murderer on death row, are sinners. And all sinners need salvation. So when you see someone who needs help, remember that. And remember that were it not for the kindness and love of God, you may just be in that same boat yourself!