Loving People

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." (Matthew 19:4-6 NIV)

People are made in the image of God.  Perhaps this is another reason God calls us to love people.  Our marriages should be the first place people see our love for God.  Loving our neighbor begins with the one to whom we are married.  No matter what idiosyncrasies your spouse has, God calls you to love your spouse.  Even when your spouse drives you crazy, love conquers all.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:16-17 NIV)

Children are also made in the image of God.  Not only that, God gives children as a gift.  It doesn't matter how much they drive you crazy, they are God's children too.  Your love for your children is a reflection of God's love to them.  They learn about God by watching your marriage and experiencing unconditional love from you.  People should see, in our family, God's love in action.

When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:21, 32-35 NIV)

There was a time in Jesus' ministry when his mother and brothers thought he was out of his mind.  You may feel that kind of pressure when you try to walk together with God, even from your parents, your brothers or sisters, your spouse, or your children.  This is when God's family become a support system in your walk.  They have also come home to the Father through the Son and received the Spirit.  They are your brothers and sisters.  Treat them with respect and all purity as a brother or sister in Christ.  Lean on them when you feel alone in your faith.  That is part of God's plan.  His Family, the Church, leans on one another when our family is against us or God.  Who knows?  Maybe your family will come around and become a part of His family, too.  That's what happened with Jesus.

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:11-12,27 NIV)

God not only describes the Church as His Family.  It's also described as His Body.  Each one of us is given a gift or gifts to use in working together.  God sends us out as His ambassadors to make disciples of all nations.  You and I have a part to play in God's plan.  Each member of His Body is designed to work together in harmony with the other parts.  It's the ultimate team, working together accomplishing His Mission, bringing His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:2-6 NIV)

Ultimately, our love for people will drive us to love people no matter what, treat people with respect, and invite people to the Garden.  Our love for them will turn into a longing for them to experience the benefits and blessings that come from walking together with God.

How about you?  Do you love people?  Do you love your family, His Family, His Body, and our community?