Tear Down Walls

You and I were entrusted with the message of God’s love. That’s a big responsibility, one that should not be taken lightly. Jesus didn’t stand on platforms and scream at sinners about their sins. He left most of his words of judgment for the religious leaders of the day. Instead, Jesus went to sinners. He loved individuals where they were, whether they had created their own mess or inherited it. Those individuals responded to his outpouring of love. They had no defense when confronted by the ministry of reconciliation.

We have a divine connection in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. His love is unconditional and transcends every dividing wall imaginable. He broke down the barriers and reconciled us to God. What was asked of the disciples on that mountaintop is also being asked of us, to simply tell others that the work has already been done. God’s grace is sufficient. You and I have been charged to be reconcilers for God, spreading his love to all we meet. To do this we must first see others as God does, as his sons and daughters and not his enemies.

Jesus didn’t come to promote a political party or a religious sect or to condemn people. He came to heal, to restore, and to pour out grace and love. This is what the women saw. He explored the margins and went to the outcast and the forgotten. He hung out with women, with lepers, with tax collectors, and with those who were despised. Jesus traveled to the small towns and the rural places, and he ministered to those who were in desperate need. We live out his love best when we knock down dividing walls and live lives that reflect his overflowing grace.

Loving isn’t easy. Sometimes it is the hardest thing that is asked of us. The good news is that we weren’t left to figure this out on our own. Instead, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue the mission Jesus left for us. Go and share the good news of Christ’s forgiveness, his healing, and the community of faith he made available to all.

Begin today to offer every area of your life in obedience to live as Jesus lived. Tell others about the good news. Go to the places that are uncomfortable and start loving the people who live in the margins of your life. In doing so you might just find that God’s love flows both ways.