Our society has become fixated on name calling, labels, and
political correctness. The very things people accuse others of, they often are
themselves. For example, if someone calls another homophobic, could it be that that
someone is heterophobic ? What about the person who labels another
intolerant. Isn’t it highly likely that
they themselves are being intolerant? The same goes for being a hate monger!
What about the folks who play the race card at every opportunity? Aren’t they
actually the ones who are being racist?
In the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus
challenges us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our neighbor isn’t just the
guy next door or the family down the street. Our “neighbor” could be anybody
that we come across that needs our assistance even if that person is our enemy.
Yes, Jesus commands us to love our enemy’s (Matthew 5:44.). It could be the
person who calls you homophobic; who labels you as intolerant or a hate monger;
who accuses you of being a racist.
How do we do this?
The Samaritans were looked down upon, even scorned by the Jewish people. The
Samaritan had every reason to keep right on walking. Why would he want to help
someone who was intolerant and a racist? Yet that is exactly what he did. What
moved him to give of his time & resources? He extended his grace &
mercy on the Jew. God has extended His grace (giving us something we don’t
deserve or not giving us something we do deserve) and mercy (showing
forgiveness and compassion) to us through his son Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ death on the cross, he took our
place. What was meant for us, Jesus paid our punishment in full. This was God’s
ultimate expression of love and sacrifice.
Opposites attract when we look
at our neighbor and our enemy through the lens of God’s grace and mercy
towards us. We look to the cross and recognize that as Jesus
unselfishly gave of himself, we are called to unselfishly give of ourselves.
Let us be about the business of attracting opposites!!
Blessings,
BDE
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