God Loves Everyone

We live in a fallen world with fallen people. We are supposed to represent Christ yet many times we fall short and do the opposite of what God calls us to do. So what does God call us to do when it comes to people who are of different religions and backgrounds? Well, we see that God calls us to love one another even when it's hard.

“Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)”

‭‭John‬ ‭4:4-7, 9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

One of the first people to ever hear about the message of living water. Was not just a woman. She was a Samaritan. Yet Jesus still chooses her to be one of the first to hear about this message.

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus didn’t care if they were cheaters, LGBTQ, or prostitutes, those are the ones He came for. There’s a fine line between embracing someone’s sins and loving them. An extended family member is LGBTQ yet I still love them with all my heart. I’m not perfect I can’t cast the first stone but I can still be here for her and share the good news with her because if you truly love someone then you will want them to have eternal life. We were called to love each other. What is the commandment the new convent has? To love God and love your neighbor as yourself. God could gave us a bunch of commandments yet he chose that one. That shows you how important it is.

However, we also know that to love someone is to correct them. Proverbs 13:24 "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." If I were to skip on all my homework and my mom didn't do anything, that will make her a bad mom correct? Letting me get away with not doing any homework will hurt me in the long run. But because she cares for me she is going to teach me and punish me for it. In doing so I learn not to do it again. So because we love someone who should guide them as well but out of kindness. But it's not logical to correct someone if we didn't build a relationship with them right? If someone were to just go up to me and start saying I shouldn't do this or that I probably wouldn't listen to them. But if they were to tell me something because they want the best for me and I know that, then I would be crazy not to listen.

So we see here first of all, that God loves everyone. And because He loves us He builds a relationship with us and guides us. In the same way, we should do that to others showing them the love Christ has shown us.

Note: Proverbs 13:24 talks about discipline from a parent. Know that discipline is different from abuse and should not be permitted.