Years ago when my girls were in school and active in sports I went to a lot of ballgames. There was this lady that never missed a home game. She didn’t have kids and was never married. She loved these kids and cheered for them even though many of them would have nothing to do with her. Neither did most of the parents. You see, she didn’t fit the social standard. She was very overweight. She didn’t take a bath very often and therefore she smelled terrible. People would try to block themselves so that she couldn’t sit near them and often she would have to sit with the fans of the opposing team. I can’t help but wonder, if Jesus would have come to a game, would she be the one he picked to sit by? I think he would have. When I study the life of Jesus, I see him always going to the unloved, unwanted outcasts. The socially unacceptable. Those who don’t “fit in”. His chosen disciples were fishermen. The rough kind. Tax collectors who collected money from their own people and gave it to their enemy! So if we claim Christ to be our God, and our King, then shouldn’t we follow his example? Shouldn’t we save a seat next to us for the one who nobody else will sit by? If we act like everyone else and treat the outcasts as outcasts, then what distinguishes us as followers of Jesus? It’s easy to love those who everyone else loves. What about the one that nobody loves? Will we dare to love them? I’m willing to bet that if we take the risk and love that person, the outcome will be worth the risk!
I’m so thankful that you love us Jesus! None of us deserve it but you love us anyway! Teach us to love others like you do!
My friends, love someone that nobody else does! Remember, Jesus loves them too!
Speaking truth in kindness 