A Physical for the Christian Soul

Here is where the rubber meets the road. It’s easy to love someone who you like … anyone can do that, but what about loving someone despite the differences you may have with them?

Scripture is clear on this issue.  Matthew 5:44-48

Imagine being in a relationship that you can’t get out of and the other person waxes and wanes between despising, disobeying, and loving; abandoning, and then wanting you.  Have you been there? 

You give them clear direction on how to stay out of trouble because you love them, yet they do what they want, when they want to do it. They continually disobey you because in their headstrong way they believe that their way is the better way ... that their desires are more valuable than your relationship.  Have you been there?

When they find out it is not, they run back to you, expecting you to clean up the mess. They give you heartache and stoke your anger, yet they are the delight of your eyes.  Have you been there? 

They visit you not more than once a week, if it is convenient for them to do so. Sometimes you don’t see them for months at a time. You love them so much that you write down a way to live their lives that frees them from all the things that hinder them, but they just put it aside because they are more interested in Jon and Kate Plus 8.  Have you been there? 

They rarely talk to you, except when they are in desperate straits. Then they call out urgently with demands to answer them, now!  Have you been there? 

Could you be blamed for pitching the relationship?

This is a snippet of our relationship with God. We have big differences with God, yet he continues to love us. He is our example of how to love difficult people.

Scripture lays it on the line. We are to be the salt and light in this otherwise dark world. That is, we are to be distinctive and one of those distinctions is to cut across every fiber in our body and love people with whom we differ.

Differ with someone on politics? Love them despite it. Differ on religion? Love them. Differ on education or child rearing? Yep. Love them. How about philosophical differences on running a business? Afraid so.  How about your spouse?  Yep.  Him/her too.

It takes great courage and faith to do this.  It is something that you can't do own your own.  If you could, you wouldn't be reading this post.  This type of courage can only be found in Jesus.  He is the only one who can strengthen you to love others who differ from you.  How does he do this?

He changes your heart to the point that difference no longer matter.

This is an important issue for many outside our faith as they often have different views of the way the world works.  Do not let your differences become a stumbling block or an excuse for them not wanting to have a relationship with God.

Imagine if more Christians did not let differences get in the way of loving others.

How would this change our country?