(submitted
by Kerry Patton)
A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another. John 13:34, 35
Cutting Against the Grain
Can we just agree that it is not “normal” to be nice? Now, don’t let me lose you here! I like to believe that we are all nice people
and that it should be normal for us to be nice…and by nice I mean to be loving,
kind, considerate, patient, understanding, empathetic, long suffering,
selfless…and all of the other qualities that we might sit down and agree that
the love and character of our Lord Jesus encompasses.
I’ll just confess right here – I am none of those things in and of
myself. That isn’t the normal human
condition. In fact, Isaiah 53:6
describes us as sheep: “All of us like
sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…” Romans 3:23 echoes this by saying: “…for all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.”
It simply isn’t in the nature of humans to be like God. Our God is described in 1 John chapter 4 not
only as a God who loves, but as a God who IS love. Simply spoken, we are not like God. We are…a fallen race. And yet, we are commanded to love. We are commanded to be…nice; and not just to
people who are nice to us either. I
mean, there is a great deal of logic to that, isn’t there? I’ll be nice to you, and you’ll be nice to
me. IF, however, you cease to be nice to
me, then I will take that as license to no longer be nice to you. That sounds like a solid covenant to me. How about you? But that isn’t the deal we are assigned to
operate by. Oh no.
The
Standard:
God’s plan for being nice is clearly laid out in Matthew 5:43-48:
43“You have
heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But
I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that
you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the
evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If
you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what
are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
I’d like you to make sure and not
get hung up on the last sentence there.
In the original Greek text, the word for perfect in this sentence carries the connotation of being
“complete.” As in…lacking nothing. The
mandate we have been given is that we LOVE completely. We are to be nice…fully, to everyone; friends
and enemies alike. That is the standard. So, as I encourage you to go out today and
every day and “Just be nice…”, I am asking you to raise the bar of how you and
I view other people: family, friends, foes, and even absolute strangers…to that
standard of how Jesus loves us. How he
in fact loves every individual in the entire world. It was these whom he came to earth for, whom
he lived for, whom he died for, and for whom he was raised from the dead. And if this is God’s standard for living and
loving, who am I as a follower of Jesus to live and love differently? Today, be nice. Love your husband. Love your wife. Love your family. Love your boss. Love that coworker that really annoys you
because Jesus loves them.
Love…everyone. Be. Nice.
Prayer
Father, cut me against the grain of my humanity. Separate me from the tendency to live and
love only for myself. Make me your loving
agent, fill me with compassion, and grant me the wisdom and ability to
accomplish your love in every encounter I make today and every day. Help me, Father, to be nice. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
