1505) I live in a beautiful place on the coast of Maine. Any day I can go outside and see something that lifts my spirits, but there is also a part of where I live and probably where you do, too, that isn’t beautiful and that is to see a huge amount of drug abuse. I have seen a number of times law enforcement arresting someone on the town landing, and later found out it was for drug use or sales.

Because this place in our town has gained a sordid reputation, if anyone pulls over and onto the landing, there are those who will automatically assume you are up to the same unlawful activities. Is there some validity in this accusation? Perhaps, but to avoid pulling over there when you get a phone call so you and everyone else can be safe solely because you’re afraid of what people may think isn’t useful.

Sometimes this negative association can happen in other areas of life. In Luke 15:2, Jesus is criticized for spending so much time with the “sinful” or lowlife people of his day. Jesus made it clear to these people that he accepts repentant sinners. It’s the “go and sin no more” (John 8:11) acceptance and not an endorsement of their actions.

We need to be careful we don’t pass judgment on people too quickly. We cannot possibly know in the moment if someone is accepting or endorsing. Why don’t we leave that to God to sort out. He’ll do a good job.