“Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.    He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.    Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore.    Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!    All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.”   2 Corinthians 5:14-18 (MSG)

God’s Love has changed everything.  Love is the place that all else should flow from.  Especially in how we relate to others.  Because of what Christ did, we all are in the same boat.  Jesus made provision for all humanity.  He died for all.  He did this so all people could find life, resurrection life.  His love took Him to the cross for everyone.  Therefore, we should treat others the same.

Being united with Christ should cause us to look at others the way He does.  We no longer look at people in the flesh.  We look at what Jesus has done for them. 

United with Jesus makes us totally and completely new inside.  We are new people.  If we are in Christ, we must treat people the way Jesus has treated them.  If unbeliever, we love them as those Jesus died for.  If believer, we love them and look at them as those who are new people in Christ. 

As God has reconciled the relationship between us and Himself we are to also reconcile our relationships with others.

1 John 2:10 tells us if we love our brother, we will not be a stumbling block.  If we do not love our brother, we become a stumbling block to other people.  Unfortunately, this usually happens because, in our deception, we talk to others about those we hate.

1 John 3:15 reveals a startling fact.  God sees our lack of love for others as murder.  If we do not love others, eternal life is not in us.

1 John 4:10 give us a warning.  Do not fall into deception.  You cannot love God if you do not love others and act righteously toward others.  As Christians, we have to be careful in how we relate to others. 

How are you loving those around you?

How do your actions reveal your heart toward others in your life?

Are your conversations about others loving or do they reveal something else?