Strong spirits: love all!
Our call is to love all - even and especially those with whom we disagree, even our enemies.
Is there a group of people that you have a hard time liking, loving, even tolerating? Why? What about them sets you off? How do you think God feels about them?
As a Jew, the Apostle Peter was convinced that the Jews were the chosen people of God and that by Mosaic law, he should have nothing to do with Gentiles. God had to show him otherwise. God had to convince him that while the Jews always had been and would be God's chosen people, the coming of Jesus meant that all people now had access to God. That he loves us all.
Read Acts 10 for an amazing account of how God changed Peter's heart, and used him to bring salvation and the Holy Spirit to a room full of Romans. Former enemies became friends, and brothers and sisters.
As followers of Jesus, our call is to love all- even and especially those with whom we disagree, even our enemies. It won't be easy, but God gives us the love to make it possible. And when we do, it will change our world!
Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.
