John 13:34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
There is no unless in that verse...
34b is not
unless they are homeless
unless they are single moms
unless they are on food stamps
unless they use medicaid
unless they have a drug addiction
unless they had an abortion
unless they are Muslim
unless they are not from the US
unless they have disabilities
unless they have different political views
unless they dress differently
unless they speak a different language
unless they _____________
THERE IS NO UNLESS.
But where I do see the word unless is:
Acts 8:30-32
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
How can someone learn of Jesus unless someone tells them? How do we expect others to hear of love, mercy and grace if no one tells them? I know I follow a strong God who does amazing things, but I also know it is our call to help in the spread of His word, but when we add unless we try to limit the people that God's message goes to. That sounds like the pharisees. Our job is to tell other people about God, but when we add unless to who we love we are trying to limit God. Jesus didn't say that heaven is only for white Americans who speak English, attend church every Sunday, have never cussed or tasted alcohol, and have perfect children, a picket fence and keep up with the Jones'. Jesus showed His father through loving others and talking to them. Meeting them where they are at. He didn't tell people they needed to be perfect, no rather he hung out with every day messed up people like me. No matter how many fundraisers I do, people I help and kind words I will say I will never measure up, but Jesus came for me too.
If you are being preached a message that God only wants white Americans then I beg of you to read your Bible. Last I checked Jesus hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, sick people, and hurting people. The Jon Foreman's song "Instead of a Show" has been a good reminder for me lately.
I was reminded by a friend this week that we are not responsible for other people's sin (unless we made choices that helped in that sin) but that we have to own what we do. We are responsible for how we love others.
Who is your "unless"?
If it is people who are homeless volunteer at a shelter
If its single moms find one to spend time with and invest in her and her children
If it is someone on food stamps spend time with people who are struggling to make ends meet (the statistics on this is that most people that use government programs are hard working people)
If it is someone on medicaid spend time with a family like ours and learn why the program is so important
If it is people with drug addictions find local places that work in that area
If it is someone who has had an abortion help at a crisis pregnancy center
If it is Muslims meet one, ask them for a cup of coffee
If it is someone with disabilities volunteer at someplace like Ronald McDonald House
If it is someone with different political views sit down and talk to someone with opposite views then you and try to understand where they are coming from
We often have our "unless" as a people group but when we think of a people group we lump everyone together and then we don't see them as individual people like you and me. People with dreams, passions, hurts and frustrations. We are all people looking for love.
Brent and I have been reading the book of James a lot lately as it is a good reminder of these things. Trust me, by no means am I perfect at this. I still have fears and insecurities, but it is one step at a time. One smile. One hello. One cup of coffee. One relationship. Use what you have today to love others; your talents, your belongings, your life circumstances, your job, your passions...
Its valentines day this week... who are you going to show real love to? Love is an action
No comments:
Post a Comment