If I know Him, I love them. I cannot say I know the Father and not love His children. All of them, not just the one that looks like me, or thinks like me. Not just the ones that agree with me. Not just the ones that picked me to be part of their tribe. Knowing Him requires me to love beyond my circle of comfort. Knowing Him stretches me to love like Him. To love people who I may not stand with in agreement. To love when I don’t understand. When it’s easy but especially when it is hard. I don’t have to compromise to love like the Father. And you don’t have to agree with me to embrace that love. If I know Him, I love like Him.
I can love like Christ without compromising His truth. Jesus was submerged in the lives of the sick and hopeless. He was drawn to people lost in sin and drowning in brokenness. He loved the unlovable and defended the undeserving. But never once did He compromise His message or waiver in His mission.Our goal should be to reach out, lead and teach in the love of Christ. This doesn’t mean compromise the Word. Jesus was confident in His message. Steadfast on His mission. Unwavering in the necessity of salvation. Insuppressible in His call for repentance. There was limitless love and boundless acceptance, but also very clear lines of obedience and a finite standard as to the price of redemption. Loving first but beckoning a desire for right standing with Him.