Being like Jesus

I was thinking for a bit tonight as the crowds massed to the house and caused quite a rucus. I started thinking back to the Gospel accounts and how they portrayed Jesus. Such love for the sinners amazes me. I think about how I was taught never to hang with the wrong crowd and how Jesus ate with the tax collectors and other hated people of His day. I am not saying do not make Christian friends, that should be a must. As far as Christian friends are concerned, it is always good to invest in wholesome friends for the wholesome influence. But we also have the people we say we were friends with and quite honestly imply that we love although we do not use the word love all the time. Of course our love for people expands beyond what we consider a healthy boundary for love and moves to a broad view of love and grace. Do not be the kind of guy who keeps expecting the Christian principals from a non-Christian, that just doesn't make sense. Instead, expect from people what they have been taught and teach them the truth when they do not know better. I say all that to say the simple words be a reflection of Jesus to someone. In matthew we are told to be perfect as the Father is perfect. This means that we are to continually strive to this end. Be someone's hope if they do not have hope.