Responding to the Call Valuing others

A co-worker sent me the lyrics of this song by Chuck Girard after hearing this devotion at our Monday morning devotions at Corporate. I think the words sum up the past couple of post well.

Don't shoot the wounded, they need us more than ever

They need our love no matter what it is they've done

Sometimes we just condemn them,

And don't take time to hear their story

Don't shoot the wounded, someday you might be one

It's easy to love the people who are standing hard and fast

Pressing on to meet that higher calling

But the ones who might be struggling, we tend to judge too harshly

And refuse to try and catch them when they're falling

We put people into boxes and we draw our hard conclusions

And when they do the things we know they should not do

We sometimes write them off as hopeless

And we throw them to the dogs

Our compassion and forgiveness sometimes seem in short supply

So I say...

We can love them and forgive themWhen their sin does not exceed our own

For we too have been down bumpy roads before

But when they commit offenses outside the boundaries we have set

We judge them in a word and we turn them out,

And we close the door

Myself I've been forgiven for so many awful things

I've been cleansed and washed and bathed so many times

That when I see a brother who has fallen from the way

I just can't find the license to convict him of his crimes

So I say...

That doesn't mean we turn our heads when we see a brother sin

And pretend that what he's doing is all right

But we must help him see his error, we must lead him to repent

Cry with those who cry, but bring their deeds into the light

For it's the sick that need the doctor,

And it's the lame that need the crutch

t's the prodigal who needs the loving hand

For a man who's in despair, there should be

Kindness from his friends'Lest he should forsake the fear of almighty God

And turn away from God and man

So I say...

©1982 Sea of Glass Music/ASCAP

Anyway, I was just thinking….
Neil