How well do we accept others?

I have been reminded that Christ has accepted me despite my flaws, selfishness, and desire to do my own thing. In so many ways throughout my life I have gone away from what Christ would want from me yet he accepts me and loves me despite those flaws. That is Good News! However the bad news is that I don't necessarily treat others the way that Christ has treated me. I am not always as openly accepting of others. I tend to be somewhat judgemental and opinionated when it comes to others. For most of us this is true to some degree. We do this both with folk that are inside the church and especially with those who are outside the church.

The sad thing is that acceptance of others is one way that we show the love of Christ and the love that we want to have for them. I need to do a better job of learning to love people no matter who they are and what it is they do. I am not loving their actions or in actions. I am simply choosing to love them as part of god's creation. After all, every person who has walked this earth is part of God's creation. When I have hatred or show ill feelings toward anyone, I am basically telling god that He messed up and I don't love what he made. I would assume God is offended by such activity.

This 40 day journey of community that we are on has taught me one huge thing. I have a long way to go in learning to fully love people. There is a lot of work God wants to do in me show His love to all people. What am I doing today, this week, this month to show and share the love of Christ with others? One of the ways is to learn to be more accepting and to save my judgements for myself. God is bringing people into my life everyday so that I might be the conduit of His love. Am I living up to His purpose for me...are you? In Community with you, Your Dreaming Pastor