Love Without Presumption

What does the heart of Jesus actually look like in practice?

How can we be sure we're emulating the King of Kings in our daily conduct?

I've learned over the years that treating people as they would like is the best way for us to follow our Savior's example.

Up front, we do serve a holy God. However, our God is a loving, infinite being. His love is also infinite. That means He's more concerned with how we conduct ourselves with others than their sins.

Mark 2:17 "On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Does a doctor judge you before treating you? No!

Their duty is to make you well, despite your background.

When police officers shoot criminals, they still receive treatment.

Jesus is the embodiment of the Father's heart.

If you can't see past someone's past, or can't see past their politics or even their orientation, you need to do a heart check.

I have had strong opinions on people in the faith who warp the text of the Scriptures to make things that aren't sin, sin, and vice versa.

But while my zeal is good, they're only trying to help others in the way they understand the Bible.

We all have errors.

Jesus often corrected misunderstandings with gentleness and had His most severe words for religious hypocrites.

While someone might be wrong about what sin actually is, perhaps you are putting the cart before the horse.

It's the same with unbelievers.

If their lifestyle doesn't conform to what you think it should, what is the higher law?

To love them just as Christ loved you.

Jesus offered Himself up as a sacrifice in our place.

Meaning we all deserve death.

Notice He didn't have prerequisites for treating mankind with love.

Once you're in covenant with Him, He expects you to try to live a good life for yourself and for others.

But insulting someone because of their behavior is not love.

If someone isn't straight, what business is that of yours? That's between them and God, who loves them.

If someone is socially awkward, what gives you the right to say they're a creep because they haven't learned social etiquette? What if they're autistic?

What if that overweight person has a disorder or takes medication that makes it nearly impossible to lose weight?

If we lead with love, we don't worry about these things.

Jesus is love, not hate.

He is the judge of all mankind. The Father has given the Son all authority to judge at the end of time.

We aren't Him.

How can we claim to have perfect knowledge of someone else?

Only Jesus has that right and knowledge.

"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him." (See Luke 10:25–37.)

In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus shows us how to care for the outcasts. The weirdos, the destitute, the geeks—those we deem unworthy of our love.

Samaritans were dogs to first-century Jews. Yet Jesus says to care for them like that parable.

If only we had the master's heart!

I'm not advocating that we don't discern threats and dangerous intentions.

If someone is coming at you with a knife, it's probably not the best idea to offer him your cheek.

The point is that we should be breaking down walls and seeing the image of God in other people.

Perfect love casts out not only fear but also presuppositions.

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."