“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
I Peter 1:22-23
My husband, Ken, loves this time of year. It’s almost time for the Super Bowl. Ken loves football — he has played and coached it, he appreciates the physical demands it makes on the body, he loves the tackles, plays, strategy, everything. He doesn’t even care who is playing. On the other hand, I’m a football snob. If it isn’t “my” team on the field, I just as soon watch paint dry. The difference between Ken and me? He’s not so selective — Ken delights in the game, even one between two last place teams. But me? If it isn’t a team I can relate to, then I don’t care to be involved.
Ken loves the game because it’s, well…football. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could love the church because…it’s the church, the bride of Jesus, His body?! Most of us, though, are far too selective. We prefer a church we can relate to; a group of other Christians we like and can identify with.
God calls us to love His people because they are, well…His people. And we are to love our brothers and sisters deeply, as from the heart. True, there will be people in the body of Christ with whom you can identify better than most. But the church that God calls us to honor and cherish is bigger than your denomination or mine. We can’t be denominational snobs. The same Holy Spirit who lives in me, also lives in certain Christians I’m not prone to cheer for or fellowship with. This year, widen your circle of Christian fellowship to include brothers and sisters in other denominations.
Lord Jesus, I confess that I do not love my Christian brothers and sisters with a sincere affection and deeply from the heart. Help me to fervently love all those who claim You as Savior.
