There are a variety of people
that we interact with daily; we place these people in categories like
strangers, acquaintances, friends, family, etc.
It is easy to let these categories affect how we treat them. But if they are in Christ they are our family
no matter how we classify them. And they
should be treated accordingly. If they
are not Christians we are to be a light to them showing through our actions the
fruit of the spirit. God has blessed our lives with these people, Christian or
not, and He has told us to love everyone as our selves. It is easy to forget
this command and ignore the call to love, show patience, and forgive all
because of our selfishness and sinfulness.
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ~Mark 12:29-32
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ~Galatians 5:22-23
People who are not Christians may
not be a part of God’s family now but could be in the future. We don’t know who God is calling to Himself or
when. The rudeness and short tempers of
Christians could dissuade or distract these people from His call. Whether they are family now is not our
concern— we must think as if all people are in the family of God and all
deserve love, patience, and forgiveness from us as we have received from
Christ. He didn’t know us, we weren’t
apart of His family yet and He still died for us, and gave His life up for us
trading our sinfulness for His righteousness.
As God’s people, we should be
sharing God’s light and treating everyone as our own family. Having the mindset that everyone is a part
our family may help us learn how to love ALL people not just those we know even
the strangers around us. Love brings
peace, understanding, and great wisdom to those who listen to the Spirit daily.
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” ~Colossian 4:5-6
