Articles
Showing Christ’s Righteous Love Regardless
How well do you believe you can tell if a person is lying? In 2021, the BBC released an article about a human's ability to spot a liar from non-verbal and behavioral clues.[1] The studies and research showed that the accuracy of spotting a lie amongst participants–regardless of law enforcement training–was commonly around 50%. No matter how confident we are in our abilities, we are often no better than flipping a coin when it comes to understanding another’s true intentions. Before we all start pointing fingers and assume the worst in each other, we should know there is hope. This is because the God of hope lives and oversees all.
Jeremiah 23:24 reads, “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” No one can hide their thoughts or actions, God knows everything about everyone (2 Cor. 5:10, Psalm 139:4). In many cases, listening to another person’s reasoning behind their actions is a great way to foster compassion for that person. However, there will be some instances where the other person might not know the reason, the reason is hard to grasp, or there might not even be a reason at all. This is why it is best to look at our thoughts and actions before we even contemplate others’. Proverbs 21:2 reads, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.”
As Christians, the reason why we give others the benefit of the doubt and do not forsake them is Jesus. Even at our best, we can merely guess that someone is our enemy unless they show us that they are. Meanwhile, Jesus knew the whole time that Judas, the Pharisees, and the world was His enemy Despite this, He showed them and us compassion (John 13). Even when Jesus was dying on the cross He loved His enemies. On the cross, Luke 23:34 records that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Whether direct enemies, friends, social outcasts, or sinners, Jesus’ love was impartial. He is our example of perfect love. As a result and regardless of circumstance, 1 John 4:19 tells us, “We love because he first loved us.”
Accepting God is meant to transform our thoughts and actions. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” If we truly allow God to transform us with His teachings, the way we love and how we view love will also be remolded. About our love, 1 Cor. 13:1-3 reads, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
[1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210401-how-to-tell-when-someone-is-lying
