Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
–Luke 15:1-2
I was once at a local hospital visiting a friend, and I came across a young lady in the waiting room who was crying uncontrollably. She looked to be about 17 or 18 years old, so I walked over to her and I said, “I’m a minister. Can I help you?”
Through her tears, she explained to me that she had just had a baby and she didn’t know where to go. She told me, “I can’t go home because my parents said if I had this baby, I wasn’t welcome in their home.” I was able to refer her to a local Christian pregnancy center and give her some guidance, but as I walked away I thought, “What a tragedy.” When her parents were needed the most, when she needed love and support more than ever, there was no place to find it.
Biblical love is acceptance. It’s not always accepting of other’s decisions or their way of life, but it accepts them as people, no matter what. That’s the kind of love God showed to you in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s the kind of love Jesus lived out as He fellowshipped with the rejects of Jewish society. It’s the love of forgiveness and acceptance.
Who are those in your life today who need to see the love of God? Who are those whom others reject, but because of the power of Christ in you, you can accept? Show the love of Christ to others each day by actively loving them no matter what they do.
BIBLICAL LOVE IS AN ACTIVE LOVE THAT ACCEPTS OTHERS, NO MATTER WHAT. FIND SOMEONE TODAY WHOM YOU CAN LOVE WITH GOD’S ACTIVE, ACCEPTING LOVE.
