Just one glimpse

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! (Luke 6:31-33)

Even sinners do that much... If you haven't ever focused on that portion of this passage, I encourage you to pause for a moment to consider what Jesus was really saying here. Even those without God in their hearts, those whose lives are still steeped in sinful actions and motivations, have figured out how to treat some people in their lives kindly, while perhaps not treating others with the same degree of kindness. Have you ever considered those in your life that you perhaps don't treat as well as some others? Why do you treat them differently? Is it their lifestyle? Their life choices? Their 'sinfulness'? If Jesus had looked upon all of us, seeing any of us even one bit differently than the rest, would we have liked it if he only went to the cross for those he 'liked' or wanted to be 'kind' toward? ALL of us are sinners and there is absolutely no 'degree' to our sinfulness. There is equally no 'degree' to God's love and his lovingkindness toward each of us!

There is absolutely no room in this world for us to judge sinners - we can disagree with their sin, but that doesn't make them any less deserving of God's grace. Does scripture clearly define some actions or choices as sinful? Absolutely, but that doesn't mean Jesus never embraced the sinner. He ate with sinners. He took sinners into his ministry. He opened his arms to sinners. If he hadn't, we'd all still be sinners! He didn't need to engage in their sin, nor did he have to condone their sin in order to embrace the sinner. Neither do we. We embrace the sinner in grace, allowing the Holy Spirit to move within their lives to convict them of their sin. We may never know what our kindness will produce until we see the move of the Holy Spirit through our actions. 

Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Hard words to put into action sometimes, especially in the face of negativity or a lack of kindness being returned. We must always remember that Jesus acted FIRST when others pulled back. He took compassion on the lame, deaf, blind, and even the prostitute. He embraced the tax collector, showed mercy to the Centurian, and ultimately forgave those who had no idea what they were doing when they hung him on the cross. Herein is our mission - to love those who make it difficult for us to love them. They may not deserve it, but they do deserve just a glimpse into the heart of God. You might just be the one to provide that glimpse! Just sayin!