Living in Increase (Part 11) - Increase in JoySample

Love Through the Divide

As believers in Jesus, we must know that not everyone lives or thinks the same way we do. There will always be a divide between the world and the Kingdom of God. This does not mean that we cannot still love people; on the contrary, we are called to love our neighbors, enemies, and anyone who persecutes us (Matthew 5:44). People do not earn our love; love is something we freely give to others because we have freely received it from God.

When we live with the perspective that there’s a divide between worldly and godly lifestyles, we understand why people act the way they do. If someone is a believer, it is our role as Christians to help each other live out the Word of God every day. However, if someone doesn’t know God or His Word, how can we expect them to live like they do? This is where love comes into the equation. People may not behave the way we think they should, but we can still love them. People may not receive Scripture if they don’t know God, but we can still love them.

This is your reminder to give others their freedom. We cannot control others or the choices they make. What we cancontrol is ourselves and how well we love everyone we meet. And as we love them, we are planting a seed that will one day, in Jesus’s name, grow into a relationship with Him.

Emily N. Green

Action Step: Find a way to show love to someone today who may not know Jesus.