Never Write People Off: Believers

“the Pharisees who had become believers.” (Acts 15:5)

Never Write People Off

No matter someone's past, we are called to never write people off.

As I was scanning the Scriptures for something to write a devotional about, I came across this surprising piece of information: Some of the Pharisees had become believers in Jesus Christ. When I think of a Pharisee, I think of the worst kind of “religious” persons. It’s even become an adjective to describe a ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude or behavior.

This verse reminds us that even some of the Pharisees weren’t beyond changing their beliefs in a radical way—(their lives were likely at stake for doing so). It wasn’t that long ago their group crucified Jesus because He said He was the Son of God and now some among them, in fact, believe He truly is. My brother and sisters in Christ, we cannot write people off because of their past or current behavior: “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even as far as the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrows, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The word of God does these things not us. Our role is to let Christ live in us (Gal. 2:20). To be his witnesses not his judges. Pray for those who are lost because "the harvest indeed is plentiful, but the workmen are few” (Matt. 9:37).

Always improve the present moment.