Dwell – Day 21

A current catch phrase is “love like Jesus.”

We see it on t-shirts, coffee mugs, and bumper stickers.

But what does it mean to love like Jesus? Jesus was undiscriminating in the way He loved. He warned us that it is easy to love those who are like us. But Jesus loved even His enemies and expects His followers to do the same.

He healed, fed, and ministered to many who would later cry, “Crucify Him!”

He washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, knowing that within hours Judas would betray Him.

He made a point of ministering to the hated Samaritans, even making a Samaritan the hero of a parable.

Rich and poor, young and old, religious and pagan—people flocked to hear Jesus because He loved them. To love like Jesus means we cannot be selective in how we treat people. James strongly condemns favoritism based on financial or social status:

James 2:9

But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

We are to treat every human being with dignity and respect, remembering that this person is a special creation, designed in the image of God. We must work to rid our hearts of racial prejudice, socio-economic snobbery, and religious superiority. None of that belongs in the life of someone who wants to love like Jesus loves.

John 13:35

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Guided Prayer:

Dear God, In a world that sometimes feels cold and distant, we earnestly pray for love to abound. Fill our hearts with boundless compassion and kindness, helping us to love one another unconditionally, just as you love us. We pray for a love that transcends differences, a love that sees the inherent worth of every person, and a love that seeks to mend what is broken. May our lives be a testament to the love you have poured into our hearts, a love that knows no boundaries. We thank you for the love that binds us together, for it is a reflection of your divine love for us. Amen

Because of Jesus, I am loved!