Love The Person…

Love The Person…2-1-26

A good friend of mine told me once that as a Christian we "love the person, hate the sin". We can draw a line between agreeing with sin and understanding what is right and wrong, but loving the person. I see this in the way Jesus loved throughout the word of God. Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." If there is one thing about myself that I definitely understand it is my sense of right and wrong. As I have said repeatedly "I am a rule follower." I repeated those words to my boss within the past two weeks. I am told or asked to do something, I do it to the best of my ability. I guess that is why I can forgive repeatedly. I know Jesus forgives me repeatedly, and He asks me to do the same. Before you think this blog is about someone hurting my feelings or doing me wrong, let me back up and say again. I write about what I feel led to write. This isn't an air my feelings when hurt blog. It is about the word of God and what He asks of me. That still small voice leading me.

I was reading this morning and this verse stood out to me. 2 Timothy 4:12, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be reading in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." You see, I am not a judge. I am not the juror. I am a child of God who is called to love, spread the Gospel, and be patient. I am also called to rebuke and reprove. Now, that part is hard for me. A friend and I have talked about this many times; lovingly talking with another about sins. I know as Paul writes, we are to hold each other accountable. We are to uphold each other. We are to lovingly and with instruction and patience guide each other. I appreciate and desire God's rebuke and reprove. I desire His guidance. Sometimes that guidance comes in the form of others. That is the very essence of loving the person and hating the sin. That is the purpose of building a body of Christians who can come to each other when the need arises. Loving the person, hating the sin is about showing love to God's children, spreading the Gospel of Christ, and allowing our Savior to speak through us.