“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loves us…” —EPHESIANS 5:1

Often in Scripture there are particular truths that also have a general application. The particular truth about Israel and their sense of exclusiveness and elitism sometimes happens to Christians as well.

When we are brought into relationship with Christ, we’re grateful to God, but in the course of time, we may begin to look down on those who aren’t. We can allow our affiliation with Christ and His church to create a sort of mentality that says we’re different, which we are in the sense that we are in Christ, but we can become complacent in that, and our ministry to those around us diminishes. What also can happen is that we make the huge mistake of looking at others, and by what we see, deem them to be beyond reaching.

Jesus said, “I did not come to judge the world but to save it” (John 12:47). He also said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). Because we are in Christ, we can sometimes develop this sense of entitlement that thinks its okay to judge others. That is a very thin end of a very dangerous wedge that says we are a little bit different and a little bit elite. It happened amongst the Jewish people to the extent that rather than seeing themselves as the servants of the world, an Orthodox Jew began his day by thanking God for not being a slave, a woman or a Gentile.

Being brought into relationship with Christ is an incredible privilege, but in that privilege we’re not meant to simply maintain our status quo, but to reach out to others and the world with love and humility. When the goals in the church of Jesus Christ become controversial over judgments and prejudices, then there is something wrong with that body of believers. Like it was in Jesus’ day, it has become a religious club, rather than a means of spreading God’s love and compassion.

The gospel is not only about getting people connected to God, but getting people connected to people. It has what we might call its vertical dimension in which we commune with God, and its horizontal dimension in reaching out to others. We become Christians, not by good works, but by the grace of God so that we may do good works. An attitude of love, humility, compassion and kindness brings to others what we ourselves have received from Christ.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I ask that You keep me humble and free from judging anyone. Give me an open heart, full of your love and compassion that I may pass onto others. Thank You, Lord.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I quick to judge others or do I see them with God’s love?