There is a division among mankind. We are divided by a line of judgment. What is it we judge? Better yet would be to ask what is it we don’t
judge? Ethnicity, color, size, shape,
ability, political affiliation, familial status, religion, beliefs, etc., etc.,
etc. And the list extends too far for
eye to see. Generations of children are
trained to continue the traditions of isolation and contentment, adding greater
layers of brick to a dividing wall of great magnitude.
Throughout history many have come along and lead a parade of
followers who attempted to tear down those walls and yet they were destroyed by
those clothed in masks of judgment. One
greatest among them all was Jesus….Son of Man, Son of God…God made mere man to
show us how to live to our fullest potential.
What was His message? Love!
What type of love did this infamous Man-God teach us? What example did He set before us through His
own life? Have His followers destroyed
any walls with the mighty hammer of Love He passed on to us?
Jesus taught us to Love our God and to Love our neighbor as
ourselves. Yet we say we Love God but
then curse those made in His image. We love
those who make us feel good or meet our approval. We are creatures of conditional love and
magnificent individual judge and juries.
We condemn without forethought and critique what we do not understand
and fear. This is just “our way”. “Our sins are not as bad as their sins!” Yet, where is Jesus in all of this? In Christianity we use God’s Word like a
hammer to crush “sin” out of people, yet in reality we are crushing them with
blows of judgment and condemnation. Isn’t
there “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?” Aren’t we only to
judge in the same manner we ourselves wish to be judged? Let’s rephrase this: Aren’t we to love in the same manner we
ourselves wish to be loved and HAVE been loved?
Sadly we as followers of “The Way” have lost our way. We have segregated ourselves in walled towers
all the while peering out of little windows and throwing rocks at all who pass
by. If Jesus were to return today would
He find us about our Father’s business, or look at our thick walled towers and
wonder who lives within such prison walls?
What is our Father’s business we are to be about? Well, if we look closely at Jesus’ life we
can see it right in front of us. We’re
to be about loving others. He did not
discriminate whom He loved. He loved the whole
world – even those who persecuted Him and killed Him. He told us to do the same…to love our enemies…to
do good to those who persecute us….to show compassion, kindness, gentleness,
patience, meekness, grace and mercy towards all. Aren’t all men made in God’s image? If we are to love God then aren’t we to love
men as well? Not just those who are kind
to us, but even those who aren’t so kind?
Then we can transform the world as Jesus intended us to do. If the world is to hate us for being like
Jesus then that’s on them. But, if they
hate us for being hypocrites than that’s on us.
Lord, please open our eyes to see our hearts and our
behaviors. Forgive us for being so blind
to our judgmental attitudes towards those You have fashioned in Your
image. Soften our hearts with Your love
so that we can share that love with others, especially those who are not so
easy to love. Let us remember that we
were once just as unlovely and yet You shared Your love with us. Help us to remember our mission and to step
out of our comfort zones…stepping out of those towers of isolation and into the
fields of humanity. May we be a people
about our Father’s business…a people of Light, Love and Truth towards all we
come in contact with on a daily basis.
Make us courageous lovers just as You were courageous to love us when we
were not willing to love You in return.
He has chosen you to run this race and
He is waiting to give you your crown! Do not be afraid and trust God
to keep His promises to be your guard and strength, your help in
times of trouble and that He will meet all your needs according to
His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!
