Love Like JesusSample

Being a Friend

I had a new co-worker a while back who really wanted to be my friend. Instead of welcoming her onto our team, I wasn't very nice to her. In fact, there were times I was flat out mean. We would hang out from time to time but only when it was convenient for me.

A few months went by and my dad was diagnosed with cancer. It wasn't long before I found myself in a hospice facility during the last few days of his life. This person I hadn't really given the time of day to didn't just pray for me during this terrible season. She stayed on the phone with me every night until I was tired enough to fall asleep. She cooked my favorite meal for me before I got on the plane. She organized a package with all my other co-workers to send to me. And when I returned to work, she made herself available to talk and to cry with me whenever I needed to.

She was my friend before I knew I needed one. She cared about me when I didn't care for her. She loved me when I wasn't very lovable.

I thought I knew what unconditional love was. I thought I understood how Jesus loves us. It turns out, I was really wrong. For some reason, I thought we earned unconditional love. Like, we start loving people conditionally and if that goes well, then eventually it will become unconditional. But that’s not the way God loves us. He died for us while we were still sinners. Jesus sees me as worthy of love even when I’m really not deserving of it. He loved me unconditionally from the beginning, and that’s the way He calls us to love others.

That friend loves me just like Jesus does. I want to love like that.

Sam Simala
Life.Church Wichita