Loving God always includes loving His people

It’s easy to love God. He’s perfect. Without flaw. He has only and will only ever extend goodness and gentleness and strength and hope to His people. Even when His plans don’t make sense, His presence is the most comforting, peaceful thing you will ever experience.
Our relationship with Him suffers not because He is hard to love but because we fail to give Him our attention. It is His sheer mercy that calls us to Him, because He knows it is only Him that satisfies our longing.

But His people—you and me? We are a different story.
We are complex and often selfish. We hurt and we harm more than we’d like to admit. We fail to see the big picture and make impulsive decisions based on the shortsighted ability of our flesh. We are constantly recalibrating and in desperate need of grace.
But that’s why scripture is clear. John 13:35 reminds us of this: the way that the world will know that we have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ is if we love HIS PEOPLE.
The way the world will know that we cling to a hope different than the headlines is if we love His people.
The way the world will know that His forgiveness is sure and His kindness is everlasting is if we love His people.

More solitude with the Maker will always- or should always result- in more love for those He has made. More empathy for their pain and more sadness for when they get lost. More patience when they mess up and more peace when things go awry.
If not, the Word remains stuck in the corners of your mind but it has not moved to your heart. The proof that the Person of peace has invaded your soul is the posture of your heart.
There is no level of “spiritual performance” that you can do with your hands that makes you void of needing constant heart realignment by Him.

If you love Jesus, you are a people-person. Because that’s why He came. That’s why we are here—to live loved, which always results in loving even the least of these.

Have you made exceptions to the forgiveness you extend?
Have you replaced the work of your hands with the posture of your heart?
It will always be how you love that pleases the Father 🤍