Lyrics and Life

I was in the car on my way home today, when Casting Crowns, 'Jesus, Friend of Sinners' came on. My radio station has a habbit of really over playing songs when they first come out. I thought I knew most of the lyrics, but then at the end of the first verse, these lyrics caught me:

"A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided"

I couldn't shake the Bible verses in Matthew 7 that talk about the man with the plank in his eye. And how profound to call oneself a plank eyed saint.  Yes, we as Christian strive to be Christ-like as our name says, but how often do we not see the planks in our own eye.

I've been frustrated at work lately, as my boss does not seem to notice certain things other staff members are or are not doing. As a returning employee, these are things I know never would have been allowed when I was there before, or even in that position. I've become so frustrated with these staff members, and my boss, and yesterday between my sister and I (she also works with me, and has a worked there a lot longer than I) we became very good at picking apart other people work.

As I stopped for a brief moment later in the day, I believe God wispered,...'And you're not perfect...'

This song really brought that back to reality, that I need to take a closer look at my planks before I'm ready to evaluate others.

And here's the rest of the song lyrics. I sometimes think there is more power in reading the lyrics we sometimes skim over with the music.

"Jesus, Friend Of Sinners"

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet