1 Peter 1:22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brother, love one another deeply, from the heart.
There is so much divisiveness in our world today. There are many, many issues that cause us to choose sides. This hurts my heart. I do not understand our human nature that wants to be right and have every little thing go our own way. And when it does not go our way, we become frustrated, volatile, and hurtful to the very ones we deeply loved moments before. How can we love one another deeply from the heart when we share completely opposite viewpoints? I look to Jesus. He hung around prostitutes, crooked tax collectors, mouthy fishermen and got along with them all. I think it is safe to say, because Jesus said it, that Jesus didn't agree with every single thing these people thought or did. As a matter of fact, in some cases he had completely opposite viewpoints. Yet these people actually sought him out and were changed by being in his very presence. They didn't need him to tell them to change their ways, they were compelled to because they knew he loved each of them deeply. Jesus' love had nothing to do with their actions or opinions. The only way we can truly love our brothers and sisters from the heart (no matter their viewpoint) is to allow Jesus into our lives deep enough that he is actually who loves them through us. We cannot do it without him. The Pharisees tried and out of their piety put to death the very one who came to save them.
There is so much divisiveness in our world today. There are many, many issues that cause us to choose sides. This hurts my heart. I do not understand our human nature that wants to be right and have every little thing go our own way. And when it does not go our way, we become frustrated, volatile, and hurtful to the very ones we deeply loved moments before. How can we love one another deeply from the heart when we share completely opposite viewpoints? I look to Jesus. He hung around prostitutes, crooked tax collectors, mouthy fishermen and got along with them all. I think it is safe to say, because Jesus said it, that Jesus didn't agree with every single thing these people thought or did. As a matter of fact, in some cases he had completely opposite viewpoints. Yet these people actually sought him out and were changed by being in his very presence. They didn't need him to tell them to change their ways, they were compelled to because they knew he loved each of them deeply. Jesus' love had nothing to do with their actions or opinions. The only way we can truly love our brothers and sisters from the heart (no matter their viewpoint) is to allow Jesus into our lives deep enough that he is actually who loves them through us. We cannot do it without him. The Pharisees tried and out of their piety put to death the very one who came to save them.
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