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Question: How Did Jesus Love Us?
Answer: Inclusively
Jesus loved everyone. He even loved those people that He disagreed with. He loved fornicating prostitutes, greedy tax collectors, and cohabitating adulterers, but was fundamentally against fornication, greed, and adultery. We are called to love everyone too.
Luke 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
In today’s society, people who don’t share the same views are quickly labeled ‘haters’ and mutually demonized. Funny thing is, Jesus said we’re supposed to love those people too. And make sure to use Jesus’ definition of love:
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”
Love is not about winning arguments. Do you get puffed up with pride as you engage in intellectual battles? Are you quick to condemn the other side? Do you enjoy verbally destroying the enemies of your beliefs? That’s not love.
Jesus loves us all as we are, and meets us where we are at. But He also loves us enough not to leave us there. He calls all of us to follow Him. He called EVERYONE to repent, even His disciples.
Luke 13:3 “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Jesus reached out to the marginalized sinners to save them, and to heal them.
Mark 2:16-17 “And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Sinners need to be healed from the effects of sin. The ironic thing was the people who thought that they were ‘righteous’ needed healing from Him too.
Matthew 5:20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Do you love everyone, even those who disagree with you?
About this Plan
Jesus said “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus loved people in many different ways. This devotional will identify the different ways through scripture, and hopefully challenge and invite you to follow His example in your own life. You will examine who you love, how you love, and why you love.
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