“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.”1 John 5:1 NLT
How many of us grew up singing ‘Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world’? A cute song with a catchy tune, something we can belt out from memory now that we are older. But is it true? Does God truly love all the children of the world? Jesus himself tells us that ‘for God so loved the world’. Is not all mankind part of the world? And if so then does God love every man woman and child?
But what if those people are doing things contradictory to what it means to be a Christian? What if they are lock in a lifestyle riddles with sin? Does God love them? What if they are worshiping someone or something else? Does God love them? What if their sexual preference and lifestyle choice goes against what the bible teaches? Does God love them? What if they murder rape and do unspeakable things to children? Does God love them?
Yes, he loves them all and desires to have a relationship with them. We know this as Jesus himself told us that the father is holding back the end so that others may come to know him. Judgement is coming, have no doubt on that, but God is waiting for more to turn to Jesus and embrace him. He loves them so much that he is patient and desires that those who call themselves children of God, those who have accepted Jesus sacrifice and hope, will go into the world and share his love.
As children of God we need to love others and see them the way God does. We need to change our minds like it says in Romans 12:1-2, not conforming to the patterns of this world. It is so easy to judge someone on appearances, attitudes, lifestyles and religious choices. But we are called to look past those things and love them as children of God and introduce them to Jesus. Let him do the rest. Let’s change our mindset and start sharing the love of Jesus with the world.
Father, if we have not shared your love because of a judgement we have made in one of your children we ask for forgiveness. You reach many people and we shouldn’t be surprised who you are calling. Let us be prepared to reach out at any moment to anyone you ask us to. Calm our fears and open our hearts, Holy Spirit give us the words to speak and the love to embrace others. We want to see your children how you see them. They matter to you so they matter to us. Amen
50 Days of Pray 