LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLE
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Galatians 3:28-29 (NLT)
Jesus, in the story of the Good Samaritan, was showing us that our neighbor really is everyone around us. It's those who are like us, those who aren’t, and those who are our enemies. In the last few years, it seems like people have been segregated more and more by our politics, the color of our skin, and our preferences. Jesus has called us to love in such a way that we tear down the divisions that so often separate. Jesus told His disciples the world will know you are Mine by the way we love (see John 13:35). We forget this. The way of Jesus means we love those who are different than us and those who wrong us. This is challenging and hard to live out each day. On the cross, Jesus showed love for all people by saying Father, forgive them. We cannot be selective in who we show our love to.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians, rabbis prayed and said each morning, God, thank You that I’m not a Gentile. Thank You that I’m not a slave. Thank You that I’m not a female. Galatians completely dismantles the thinking of that day and rewrites the script, saying that we are all one and are called to love everyone because everyone is made in the image of God. Paul shows us that we are to love those who are different from us. Those who don’t think like us. Those who don’t act like us. Those who wrong us. I truly believe people can muster up the strength to love others for a season, but a love for all people over a long period of time is only possible when God has transformed us from the inside out. Only the Spirit of God can create a love like this!
The key to loving others well begins with loving God. We don’t try harder; we surrender more and more to the love of God. The more the love of God moves inside my heart, the more it will move outside me to those around me. We live in a culture where we get to pick a lot of things. Most of us decide where to eat, who we want to marry, where to live, how to spend our time, and so on, but we don’t get to pick who we love. Jesus has made it clear that everyone around is your neighbor. God has called you to love everyone always.
APPLICATION:
The love of God is not selective. You are called to love everyone you come into contact with.
PRAYER:
Ask the Spirit to show you who you are prejudiced toward. Ask the Spirit if there is anyone who is your enemy. Ask the Spirit to help you love those around you!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?