It’s easy to share the love of God with people who are just like us: people who dress like us, and worship like us. That doesn’t take a lot of effort. But what about people that are different from us, people that we don’t understand, we don’t agree with? Jesus says; This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12
As far as we are concerned, how can we continue to love people who are making wrong choices? It’s easy to size them up from the outward, put them in a box, and think they are not for me, they are odd. I’m going to keep my distance.
However, God’s love is not exclusive; it’s inclusive. It doesn’t exclude people who are different. It doesn’t write people off because they are not where they should be in life. It doesn’t ignore someone because they are not meeting our standards. It doesn’t have to agree with your lifestyle, doctrine, how you are raising your children or the friends you are choosing. It’s a command from God.
You are made in the image of almighty God and I am not called to judge you, I am called to love you, and we have to realize every person is on a journey. Where they are right now is not where they are going to end up. They are not a finished product, they are still on the potter’s wheel. (Jeremiah 18:2-6)
But so often, we judge people for where they are today. Your love, your friendship, and your encouragement are a part of the plan God has designed for their life. God is counting on us to make a difference. Don’t have a holier-than-thou attitude. Take off the judgmental glasses. If not for the grace of God, you could be right where they are.
The same things that we are tempted to be judgmental and critical about, if not for God’s goodness, we could be struggling with as well, and if you had walked in their shoes, been raised in their family, fought the battles that they fought, you would understand why they are where they are.
In the areas that you are strong in, you didn’t just happen to be strong, that is the mercy of God on your life. When we share God’s love, people may not respond right away and it may seem like it’s not doing any good since the changes may not be seen immediately. However, the seeds of love planted never die.
Every time you show God’s love, you are sowing seeds… Sometimes we think that we have to convict people, we have to tell them what they are doing wrong, point out all their faults, and make sure they feel guilty. No, the Holy Spirit is the one that convicts. You just keep sowing these seeds, sharing God’s love, and at the right time, they will come to life.
Our part is to simply keep sharing God’s love. Not I will love you if I agree with you. I will accept you if: no, our attitude should be, “If you have good morals or no morals, I am still going to love you. Jesus said, By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have a love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Notice He didn’t say it’s by how spiritual we are or how many times we come to church, how many scriptures we can quote, how many miracles take place. No, they will know by our love for other people. What would this world be like if instead of judging people, we would start loving people?
So they don’t look like you? They are not supposed to. God made them different. Maybe they are not where they should be in life right now. That’s okay, they are on a journey. They are not a finished product.
Perhaps they don’t worship like you. They come from different denominations, different cultures, and maybe even different faiths. That’s okay, don’t shut them out. Our God is the God of the whole earth. He is not a white God or a black God. He is simply God, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob loves the Muslims just as much as He loves the Christians. He loves the Hindus, the atheists. He is the God of all flesh.
So many times we have this narrow view of God. We have our little circle of what we believe and who we think is right and we exclude everyone else. We point out their faults, what they are doing wrong, where we don’t agree. “Well, they don’t baptize like we baptize. They don’t take communion like we do”. We focus on the things that separate us.
THE LOVE THAT OVERRIDE WRONGS!
The love of God overrides any kind of wrongs. This was illustrated by Jesus while on the cross. By His side were Criminals who had done a lot of wrong stuff and lived lives they weren’t proud of. Before one of them died, he looked at Jesus and said, “Please remember me when you come into your kingdom”. He simply acknowledged who Jesus was. (Luke 23:42)
He, in effect, called on the Name of the Lord. Jesus said, “And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” That criminal didn’t pray a long sinner’s prayer, never got baptized in water, never attended church. That was simply the mercy of God. It doesn’t always fit into our theology or devotional books!
The mercy of God is wide. Why do we try to make it so narrow and thin? You don’t have to accuse people of what they are doing wrong. They already know that. Just love them. Let your life be the sermon. At the right time, those seeds will come to life. We don’t know, some people may be on their dying bed and God will reveal Himself to them. They will feel the love of God pulling them in.
There is usually a good reason people are the way they are, and we have got to give them room while they are in the process of changing. If we are judgmental, that’s not going to help them move forward. That’s not sharing God’s love. If you meet all my demands, then I will love you, then I will accept you. No, God freely gave us mercy. Let’s freely give other people mercy.
The scripture says to be honest in your judgment of people. “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24). How many times do we look at someone and in a split second we decide whether or not we are going to like them? No, give everybody room to become who God created them to be.
They don’t look like you, dress like you, act like you, that’s all right. They are on a journey. They are not a finished product. Jesus made it simple: “Don’t judge and you won’t be judged”. You may not understand someone but you don’t have to understand them to love them. You don’t have to agree with them to accept them. That’s God’s way of loving!
Start covering people with love. It’s easy to cover people with judgment, cover with condemnation, cover with guilt. But let’s start covering people with love. Love heals. Love breaks down barriers. Love puts people back on their feet. You may not understand someone but that’s okay. Have a wide circle of love.
Remember, they are on a journey. Where they are is not where they are going to end up, and God is counting on us to make a difference to push them forward. Show mercy, be understanding, and give them the benefit of the doubt.
As you share God’s love, not only will you help others, but your own life will improve. You will have more joy and better relationships… I decree and declare that you will overcome every obstacle and live the life of victory God has in store for you, in Jesus’ name.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’!
