We Must Love One Another...

"Learning how to love your neighbor requires a willingness to draw on the strength of Jesus Christ as you die to self and live for Him. Living in this manner allows you to practice biblical love for others in spite of adverse circumstances or your feelings to the contrary."  - John C. Broger

There appears to be a strong wind blowing around the world today that is gusting in the direction of preconceived opinions towards others. We see evidence of this as individuals become labeled by the way they look, act, or dress. Those who do not conform to whatever the majority standard is are quickly judged and condemned as a possible threat.

Unfortunately, none of this is new. Throughout our world history, human beings have been unfairly subjected to judgment, chastisement, and expulsion for no good reason other than because they were different from everyone else. One cannot possibly begin to understand the true repulsiveness of this if they have never been the subject of contempt, disdain, or scorn,

The world in which Jesus walked was not exempt from this type of hostility. Much like today, nations and people did not get along because of whatever differences they had. I suppose that's why many were afraid of Jesus. He was different from anyone they had known before. And it was that difference that they perceived as a threat.

There was there never a hint of prejudice or prejudgment in anything Jesus said or did. When Jesus interacted with the lone Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:1-42, we saw a kind, loving, and accepting Jesus. She was not considered "acceptable" because of her background, lifestyle, and beliefs. But this did not sway Jesus' perception of her one iota.

There is a lesson here that Jesus wanted to get across. He instructed us to "...love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34). He just didn't spout out words or use illustrations to those he taught simply because it was "a good thing to do." Jesus not only talked the talk, he walked the walk!

Scripture tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and "there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins" (Romans 3:23; Ecclesiastes 7:20). Are we really following Jesus' example? Or only cutting and pasting the parts of his teachings that suit our own agenda.

Scripture: 1 John 4:19; 1 Peter 4:8; John 15:9; Leviticus 19:18;  1 Corinthians 16:14

Prayer: Dear God, may I be slow to anger and filled with love. Please fill my heart with patience and  understanding; give me the wisdom to follow Your example always, amen.

Have a safe and blessed weekend,

Amanda