If you love those who love you , what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than
others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father if
perfect (Mt.5:46-48).
Most of us have heard about the golden rule, "Do
unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Lk.6:31, paraphrase). That along
with the very words in the scripture above are messages to us that call us as God's
children to a higher standard. And though Christ raised the standard, we know that it is
easier to allow the standard to slip back to a more comfortable place. That is why we must
recognize our tendency to do that, and take steps to instill the habits of love--and that
love that is according to the standard of Christ.
It is true that misery loves company. It is also true that the more people doing things
according to our fallen standard, the easier it will be for us to stay beneath that fallen
standard. For though we see what is Right and recognize that which we should be doing, it
is so easy to excuse ourselves from doing it when we see very few doing it. We may often
comfort ourselves by thinking we are "no worse than they." We may say, "No
one else is doing it, so why should I have to?" Maybe we think the standard is too
high--more like and ideal than a realistic expectation. But Christ made no reference
toward such thinking. Instead, He consistently pointed out that as His followers, we must
adhere to a higher standard.
But why would He expect so much from us? After all, we are only human--right? Yes we are
only human, but we have something that the unbelievers do not--we have the indwelling
Spirit of God. Because of that we have what we need to rise above our human weaknesses and
inadequacies. Because it is not of our own strength, but it is by the Spirit of Christ in
us that we can raise our own standard. For "I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me" (Phil.4:13), and "With men this is impossible; but with God
all things are possible" (Mt.19:26). So it is Christ in us who loves according to His
nature and Spirit. And that love is grown within us, and matures to work and to will
according to the purposes of God. Therefore we do not excuse our inadequacies, but rather,
take heart because we know that His love in us shall teach us to love even as He loves us.
So what shall we say with respect to preferential treatment? We denounce it as not being
rooted in the love of God, and we defy it by exercising the love of Christ in our lives.
And what shall we say of our human tendency to love only those who love us? We recognize
that tendency but take action so as not to let the flesh rule over the spirit. And what
action shall we take? We have been given all we need to demonstrate the love of God in
truth to those around us. It is necessary however to make this love a habit, demonstrated
through action--to give it legs, if you will. For if we do not move according to the love
that is in us, we shall certainly slip into our place of complacency, and we shall forget
compassion. We may at times forget the power of the human heart, that it is a power that
if it is not kept under control, it will control us. But if it is controlled by the
spirit, it can move beyond anything we ever thought capable.
Perhaps you feel you have lost your compassion toward a lost and dying and godless people.
Maybe you see yourself as one who wants to love the unlovable, but you find yourself
loving those whom it is easy for you to love. But maybe you are loving people, but you
just want to make God's love in you more evident--allowing Him to love through you
perfectly. Some have said, "Love is a verb." And that pretty well sums it up. We
must take thought out steps in our lives that will make loving the unlovable a habit. If
we really make the effort to do it, we may discover that it is not nearly as difficult as
we might have thought at first. And what will come out of it is more than we can ever
imagine. | 
Unto Others