PEOPLE MATTER



It’s time Christ-followers start giving off some light because the darkness is closing in at a rapid pace. The killings that took place in Dallas and now in Baton Rouge are images of hate. Having hate in one’s heart is a sign, according to the Bible, that a person is walking or living in darkness. There are people who seem religious because they can speak the language of the church but they don’t really walk as Jesus walked—in the light. “Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. But anyone who hates another brother or sister is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.” (1 John 2:10-11) The apostle John makes this abundantly clear that if you hate your brother you do not know God and you are living in darkness, but if you love your brother your life is full of light.

I wonder how much of our sin—greed, rage, deception, sexual immorality, anger, hate—is the result of not loving others? Sin is the ultimate act of selfishness. Not only does it drive a wedge between you and God, it drives a wedge between you and others. Sin says, “What I want is more important than what you want. What I want is more important than what you need. What I want is more important than your feelings or your well-being. That’s because I’m the center of the universe and you’re not.” This selfish attitude cannot co-exist with a genuine love for people. When you start loving others, selfishness loses its grip in your life, and sin loses its power.

When you love others you create stability for those who are receiving it as well as yourself. It seems that stability is something our society could use right now. When you love others it’s easier to find the purpose for your life. Loving others gives you direction. Love brings light into your life, as opposed to hatred, which brings darkness. We’ve all seen, in the past few weeks, the results of someone so full of hate, so set on revenge that they couldn’t see or think straight.

In order to know that God wants you to be secure in knowing him you have to know that people matter to God more than anything else in the world. If you want to know God in a life-altering way, then it is imperative that you learn to love people the way Jesus loves people.

Come on people now smile on your brother. Everybody get together. Try to love one another right now!

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