CLAY CENTER – Once while traveling internationally a young woman caught my eye in the airport. She was with an older man, who did not seem to be her husband or father. Her face looked filled with despair. Something was not right. I prayed, wondering if she was in some type of danger. As the couple was getting their luggage, the man stepped away, leaving the woman sitting alone. I felt compelled to do something, so I asked a young woman in our group to come with me. Together we went to the woman while the man was gone. I introduced ourselves and shared, “I saw you sitting there and wanted to let you know, I’m praying for you. If you need help with anything, let me know.” Then soon afterward the man came back, and the two left the airport.
Despite some minimal risk, why did I do that? Because my walk with God urged me to. Jesus once said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) The Golden Rule is based on this, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…” (Matt. 7:12)
What I was practicing was basic Christianity. If one claims to be a Christian, the evidence will be demonstrated through loving his neighbor. The Scripture declare, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21) If one says their name is written in the lamb’s book of life but treats some people unjustly, or deliberately turns away from helping the needs of others, their profession of faith is a lie.
How so? Because God has made all people in His image. Therefore, how we treat others is how we treat Him. So if we say we love Jesus but mistreat someone who is made in His image – we are liars.
Jesus once spoke about a future judgment all humanity will face before Him. And He predicted that He would say to some, “…as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matt. 25:40)
What does love for others look like? It is forgiving someone despite the horrible things they did, and their refusal to admit wrongdoing. It is one man treating another man with dignity although they are a different race or ethnicity. It is a husband laying down his own wants and needs in sacrificial love for his wife, and she doing the same for him. It is visiting the widow, providing a home to the orphan, caring for the sick. It is defending the weak and being a voice for the voiceless.
Do you talk of yourself being a Christian? Do you share how you prayed to receive Christ. Yet, you curse at your wife. You deceive others when it is to your advantage. You say evil things of other church members. You deliberately remain silent in the face of another’s injustice. You spend your earnings on your own wants and needs, refusing to help the needy. If this is you, then your profession of faith is nothing more than that – a profession.
Before Jesus ever said to love our neighbor, He said this, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37-38) How can you learn to love, as God wants you to? Simple. By loving Him. When you love God with all your being, He will then transform your heart through the death and resurrection of Christ. You will then be able to love others by the power of God and for the glory of God.
A prayer for you – Lord God, help us to love our neighbors, as we love ourselves. Help us to love those who are hard to love. Bring us to put the needs of others above our own. Change our hearts to do for us, what we cannot do for ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Clint Decker is president of Great Awakenings. Share comments at cdecker@greatawakenings.organd follow his blog at clintdecker.blogspot.com.
