By Ryan Neuhaus

Too many of us who believe and follow the teachings of Jesus find all kinds of reasons not to love those who are around us.  We are too busy, too tired, too scared, too selfish, or too “you name it.”  God called Jonah to love a pagan nation by speaking the truth to them, but Jonah was too prideful.  Therefore the Lord disciplined Jonah by throwing him into the sea, swallowing him up in the belly of a big fish, and vomited him out onto dry land three days later.  It was because of the Lord’s discipline that Jonah obeyed.  Do we need to be disciplined?  Do we need a big fish experience to break us from our self-focused life, so that we can love and serve those around us?  What is it going to take to awake you from your slumber?

The Lord Jesus wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of him.  His grace is not just for those who look like you, talk like you, smell like you, dress like you, or even act like you.  The God over all creation has proven himself to be the One true God that loves all mankind.  His desire is that all will know his grace and mercy. 

Therefore in the light of Christ’s desires can we as followers of Jesus, the Almighty One, walk together, uphold each other, and challenge each other to actively invest in and love whoever is around you?