Today I have been thinking (I know, that is dangerous when that happens). Specifically, I have been asking myself the question, “Do you really love people that are far from God?” As I thought about the question my initial response was:
“of course I love people that don’t know God. I have given my life to full time ministry. I am a pastor that is focused on leading a congregation to take church to the unchurched. I consistently preach on evangelism.”
But the more I thought about the question, the more I was reminded and convicted. Being a pastor, preaching about evangelism, or even leading a church in a missional strategy is completely different than loving lost people. Loving people far from God requires loving when it is hard to love; it requires loving even when it’s messy. I have seen it so many times; Christians say they love the lost, but when they are faced with the baggage that comes with a life that is far from God they are offended and usually withdraw. As I think about this response, I am cut to the heart. Jesus desires that we truly love and engage the people who need it the most.
Romans 9:2-3 came to mind, Paul writes, “ I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers.” Paul valued his relationship with Jesus more than anything else, there was nothing more important. But as an expression of his heart and love for the lost, he admitted that he would give that up (if it were possible) if only his brothers could be saved.
I pray that my life and ministry would be characterized by that kind of sacrificial love for those that are far from God!
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