” A new command I give you, love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13: 34 -35)
Loving others is not always easy. Love is a popular word these days but few people seem to accurately define it. Love is a verb it’s an action word.
In order to properly look at love, we need to get rid of our own selfishness and sin.
Unfortunately, modern-day Christians are not known for easily accepting others who aren’t like themselves. They seem to be much more identified with judging other people. Deserved or not, some judging Christians will look down on people not like themselves.
Most Christians will reject abortion, divorce, drinking, drugs, premarital sex, living together before marriage, porn, and sometimes other religions.
Instead of actually rejecting the people, Christians should look at these rejections as a “list of decisions” people made, and not the actual person they should reject.
I was one of these people who made a bad decision while I called myself a Christian. I did not have God’s word deep in my heart. Honestly, I was simply not walking with Jesus and living in sin. Unfortunately, I was judged severely and rejected by many which is a wound I still remember.
The people who received my attention, and who I listened to while living in the sinful state I was in, were those who came close to me and loved me where I was. They showed me love and God worked on the rest. The judgemental onlookers only propelled my defiance.
Acceptance is a powerful thing. We subconsciously gravitate toward people who accept us versus those who reject us, right?
Jesus was a friend of sinners. He entered a relationship with sinners in order to have influence with them and accomplish His Father’s business. We are to follow the example of Jesus.
We are not above others, we are sinners, saved by God’s grace. We must truly love and understand where they are in their life and that God and His words of love are what changes the heart, not us.
We are to love, show love and be love to others. Again, not always easy, but right.