My parents cautioned me about it over and over again — especially my dad.

When I became a middle-schooler, my parents began to warn me about whom I hung around with. "Bad company corrupts good morals," they would say. While both my parents were Christians, my dad was a fundamentalist. (I know because he proudly proclaimed himself as one.) So my young life was filled with rules and regulations — warning me against particular behaviours considered off-limits and against associating with those who would tempt me to consider those behaviours. There were even a few years when they sent me to private schools, hoping that I would meet a better quality of peers.

But Jesus … He hung around with the very types of people my parents warned me against.

Mark 2:16 – But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?" (NLT)

Most of Jesus' time was spent hanging around with those others didn't want anything to do with … those with dreaded diseases … those with immoral lifestyles … those who lived on the wrong side of the tracks. Jesus knew that well people don't need a doctor … sick people do — people sick with the effects of sin. No one was too bad for Jesus to love. Nor should they be for me. He loved me when I was undeserving, and I must love others, too.

Through my experiences with others and because of my human nature, it's easy to develop prejudicial attitudes and stereotypes. Jesus' nature of pure love prevented these from developing in His life, and with His love flowing through me, I, too, can put them aside.

Jesus was always the influencer … but He was never influenced. While no one is too bad for me to love, I must be careful that I'm always the influencer rather than being influenced.

Is there anyone or any group that you've labelled as "too bad to love"?

Prayer: Father, may we always love others with the same love that we're loved with by You. Amen.

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About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA
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