Loving Others.

A few weeks ago, a friend reminded me of something I said just over three years ago in a tense, emotional moment.  “I don’t even really care about people!” I exclaimed. “If I’m being really honest, I care more about animals!” 

When she reminded me of this, I burst into laughter, shocked by my own ignorance. But this statement sent me into a spiral of reflection on how much the Lord has radically shifted my heart since that moment. 

As I’ve fallen in love with the most passionionatly loving man there is, I’ve learned a lot from Him when it comes to how I react to others. What it means to honor and respect others, with my words, actions and my thoughts. More importantly - what it means to see and love others as He does! He's been teaching and growing in this for years now, but in India it hit a whole new level. 

He opened my eyes - and it ripped open my heart. 

I have never felt the love of God for a nation like I did while I was there. It was like - every single person I looked at, I felt an intense desire for them to know who they were. That they were created by God, fearfully and wonderfully, and that there was a purpose on their life. That they are loved so intensely that if they grasped on to even an ounce of it - it would flip their world upside down as it did mine. And no matter if they were a Hindu priest or a beggar on the street - they are loved and He is in passionate pursuit of their heart. No body has gone too far. No body is outside of His sight. He desires every single one to know Him - which brings freedom, hope, and purpose! (Phew, c’mon, the list is endless on what happens when you encounter the love of God!) 

Guys, it was intense. It messed me up in these best way. 

As I continued on to the States and Germany - it didn’t stop. Oh no - I felt it. Every single person I saw might as well had a bright red stamp on their forehead saying LOVED or BLOOD BOUGHT. I couldn’t look at anyone any differently. As soon as one tiny sliver of a judgement (subconscious or not) started to come into my mind it was like I would get shaken back into reality by Holy Spirit - reminding me that I am called to look at each person as He does. 

Unfortunately, that’s an upside down reality to the world. 

The world says it’s all about us. 

The world says we have a right to put others in boxes. That it’s okay to label others by their sin. The world says we are entitled to speak ill of others if they have wronged, inconvenienced or are just plain different from us. It’s the enemy whispering those lies saying “Thats right, you ARE better than them” or “If they don’t hear you, what does it matter?” And as a result, we often become calloused, judgmental and prideful. 

I know because I was.

And we have to ask ourselves, are we followers of of this world and the popular culture we’re surrounded by, 

or are we followers of Jesus?

Because we can’t be both. 

For years Jesus has been stripping me of wrong ideals about people. 

Stripping off judgements, boxes, labels, and the big one - pride. It’s by the renewing of our minds and the shedding of our flesh that we begin to see. It’s by falling in love with Him. The only reason we can love is because He loved first - and He teaches us what that should look like.  

If we are followers and disciples of Christ - then we must realize that He loves people, no matter how far they have strayed from Him - fiercely. His love never condemns, but it brings honor to all people. He speaks straight forward truth that ultimately brings freedom, hope and life to all those who take His words to heart. And so can we when are hearts are in alignment with His.

Jesus did not get on his high horse, ignore, or tolerate people because of their sin. He welcomed them, dined with them, prayed for them, healed them, and died for them (all of us) - and it was His love that made the difference.

Judging is a weakness - a bad habit.

The world needs believers and disciples to step out of our comfort zones. 

Sharing the gospel, sharing about how Jesus has transformed our own lives - now that's bold.

Because Love looks like something. It sounds like something. 

Love brings restoration, dignity, hope and freedom. 

Love is not poured out for the sake of gain, expecting no return. 

Love honors. 

Love is intentional. Active.

Love sounds like something. How do we speak of others? 

What sound are we making with our lives? Is it a reflection of Him or of the world? 

Love CELEBRATES all people, and I believe we are called to befriend people from all walks of life, backgrounds and races. Celebrating individuals. 

Calling out the gold within them, and proclaiming over and over again - that they are loved, passionately and unconditionally, by the King of Kings! 

So that man that cut you off on the highway earlier today - LOVED. BLOOD BOUGHT.

The girl who stands in front of you in the check out line tomorrow - LOVED. BLOOD BOUGHT.

The woman who insults you in front of your co-workers - LOVED. BLOOD BOUGHT.

The boy who looks like He’s given up on life, with needle marks on his arms - LOVED. BLOOD BOUGHT.

Every day, fresh and new, we get to partner with Jesus and ask:

"Who can I celebrate today? 

Who can I honor today? 

Who needs you Jesus, open my eyes to them!"

He’ll lead us to the most broken.
The ones living on a 2x5 ft piece of cardboard and the ones with corner offices overlooking the river. He’ll lead us to the tired momma’s who need some encouragement. To the man who’s wife left him 20 years ago and hides his pain in drugs and alcohol. 

He’ll lead us to each other. 

Into our backyards and half way across the world. 

He is in the business of calling every individual back to Himself - and we have the chance, if we choose to take it, to be apart of the greatest restoration of life.

Let’s intentionally look like Love today.

Let’s intentionally sound like Love today.

Let’s be authentic lovers of Him.

Let us rise up and allow Him open our eyes anew to people. 

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

John 13: 34-35