1 John 4:7 (NKJV) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Jesus came and lived among us, and He loved those He spent time with.
He ate with and spent time with those who society would consider undesirable; prostitutes, tax collectors, adulterers and more.
These very same people would be looked down upon if they entered many of today’s modern church buildings. Some might even be asked to leave.
If God’s love is ever to be portrayed to the world, how can it happen if we, the body of Christ, shun people and turn them away based on how they look or how we perceive them?
We will admit that some people can be hard to love. They might be obnoxious, boisterous or downright unruly and rebellious. But there was never a moment in our lives when we were the picture of perfection. And yet, God loved us in spite of ourselves.
So who are we not to show that same love to those who we come into contact with?
No, it’s not always easy. In fact, sometimes it can be downright difficult. And those people that we’re trying to love can be the very ones that make it the hardest. But loving people is not an option. It’s a command from Jesus himself.
Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV) 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
So, as His body, we need to cut through all of the noise, all of the heated debates, all of the propaganda and everything else that would try to get in the way. And we need to love.
Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie
Seven Seas Ministries
P.O. Box 272
Bradford, RI 02808
401-315-0902
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