Love is not based on labels

And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must love their brother and sister. ~1 John 4:21

I am hesitant to talk about this topic because I don’t want to be a source of division, but I feel like it is important to bring those things that are in the dark into the light.  I pray that my words glorify God.

I am finding that I have begun to  talk around the edges about what is happening in society with other believers who don’t look like me because I don’t want to offend. I push it to the side, but upon closer examination I can see that I have begun to allow roots of distrust and resentment to invade the corners of my heart.  But Hebrews 12:15 warns us to guard against roots of bitterness and Proverbs 4:23 tells us to guard our hearts for from it are the issues of life.   Therefore, I have deal with the truth and rebuke the enemy.  I have to rip out anything that would stand against the word of God.  God has commanded me to love my brother and my sister.

God does not see us according to political parties, race, gender, class, or region.  He sees us as His children.  But I have found myself letting my eyes shift to what is put out there in the news or in social media.  I have started to look at the D and the R.  I have started to look at the race of a person.  I recognize that my perceptions of others is being filtered by pain of past and present history.  It is creating  an attitude that is not  aligned with what God say and this pure foolishness.

All of this misery: sexism, abuse, racism, murder, immortality and strife is a tactic of the enemy and I want no part of it.  Satan has sown seeds of chaos and division and His harvest of darkness  is perverse, but I can stand against it, we all can, if I walk in the light of Christ.  If I stand on His Word.

I must walk in the light of His love.  I must love without conditions.  I must walk in agreement about His command to love my neighbor as myself.  I can’t hate my brother and say I love God.  I can’t wish ill on my sister and say I love Jesus.   I can’t praise God with one breath and then bemoan someone else in the next.

So I as myself these questions?  Am I too busy looking at the R or D on someone’s chest or am I  keeping our eyes on Jesus?  Am I looking at the color of their skin or their gender rather than fixing my head on things of  Jesus? Am I  making false assumptions about people based on their income?   Is my definition of justice the same as God’s?  Is my thinking in line with what God thinks or is it what the world thinks? Am I loving unconditionally as Christ loves us?  These questions are for myself.  Questions to keep my eyes on what is noble, pure, and trust worthy- Jesus Christ Himself.

Father forgive me for not loving others the way that You have commanded.  Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me.  May I be a weapon of peace and not division.  May I celebrate the diversity of Your body and live in unity.  Teach me to love.  In Jesus name. Amen