“Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.”
Romans 12:9 AMP

Have you ever considered that your attitude toward others often influences their attitude toward you? God created us as individuals. Life would be boring if everyone were the same. Yet we often gravitate toward those who think like us, live like us, and see the world like we do — “birds of a feather.” We feel comfortable there.

For 43 years I lived in the United States. In 2003, God opened the door for me to work, live, and minister in Saudi Arabia. The culture was vastly different, and the stigma of past events had created fear in my heart. I had always considered myself open-minded, yet inwardly I was afraid that something bad might happen to me because I was different.

One day I was praying for the Saudis, standing behind a gate so no one could see me. In the middle of my prayer, the Lord interrupted my thoughts:

“What are you doing?”

“Praying, Lord,” I responded.

“No, you aren’t,” He said gently but firmly. “You’re hiding. How do you expect to minister to these people if you are afraid of them?” It was like a ton of bricks fell on me. God was right. I had allowed unfounded fear to keep me from doing what He had sent me there to do — love them. After that day everything changed and my wife and I stayed for 21 years!

If we constantly criticize others, we build walls that are difficult to tear down. Our attitude toward people should be inspired by the Holy Spirit and shaped by the love of Christ.

Scripture reminds us:

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 AMP

Notice it does not say God loved only those who loved Him. While humanity stood in rebellion, God loved. His love was not selective, safe, or convenient.

The writer of Hebrews urges us:

“[Looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2–3 AMP

What was that joy? Not the suffering. Not the shame. The joy was accomplishing the Father’s will and redeeming a people for Himself. The joy was reconciliation — you and me brought near to God.

That is sincere and active love.

Romans commands us that our love is to be “the real thing — without guile and hypocrisy.” It is easy to pretend to care. It is easy to speak kindly in public and critically in private. But Christ’s love was genuine. It moved toward people, not away from them.

The next time you find yourself among “birds of a different feather,” ask God:
“How can I love these people the way You loved me?”

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Ken