Culture WarsChikamu

Love

It’s easy to love the people who agree with us and share our world view. But what if that’s not the case? What if it requires us to step out of our comfort zone? The truth is, every person, no matter where they are from, no matter their political party, no matter how different their viewpoint on life, needs and desires to know they are loved and valued. Jesus came to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. A kingdom that is so far-reaching and inclusive that everyone is invited! In this Kingdom, there is a clear set of marching orders for every follower of Jesus: “Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another” (John 13:34 MSG). Love one another—not just when it’s convenient or when we feel like it, but in the way He loved us: with kindness and compassion.

I’m so grateful that Jesus didn’t just give us the command to love and then just leave us to figure the rest out. He showed us how to love others without any conditions or pre-requisites. He went into people’s homes. He shared meals with people who didn’t share His worldview. He saw them, heard them, and knew their hearts and struggles. If we can look beyond our opinions and see the person beside us as someone who Jesus died for, we will find equality at the foot of the cross. If we can listen to people who don’t experience the world the way we do, we will gain understanding and compassion. If we take time to get to know someone’s heart struggles and story, then love will be our natural response.

How can you take a step, in love, toward people who see the world differently than you today? Just do what Jesus did. Invite them to share a meal. Ask questions and listen, seeking to understand instead of being understood. Look for ways to lift their burdens by serving them. You never know; along the way, you may find out that the person sitting across the table from you isn’t as different as you thought.