You Are Royalty
In a world that often prioritizes materialism, ego, and status, we, as Christians, are called to uphold our unique profession of faith. The title of ‘Christian’ is not just a label but a profound responsibility to live by the values and principles we profess. Let’s be inspired to live up to this calling, rejecting worldly values and embracing the love ethic.
The royal law, as found in Scripture, commands us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This isn’t a new concept – it’s rooted in the Old Testament and emphasized by Christ as the most important rule. Yet, we often find it challenging to put this into practice in our daily lives. We understand the struggle, and we are in this together.
Consider the story of the man wearing fine clothes and a gold ring entering a gathering, followed by a poor man in shabby clothes. How do we react? Do we show special attention to the well-dressed man while relegating the poor man to a lesser position? If so, we’ve become judges with evil thoughts, discriminating among ourselves and failing to live up to our calling.
God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and inherit the kingdom. When we dishonor people experiencing poverty, we’re not just failing them—we’re failing to live up to the noble name we claim. We’re called to speak and act as those who will be judged by the law that gives freedom, remembering that judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
We Are Family
In these divisive times, when school shootings have become tragically commonplace and political discourse has descended into the gutter, we’re reminded of the importance of unity and kinship in the body of Christ. The church isn’t just an organization—it’s a family. We’re brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, all part of the same spiritual lineage.
This familial bond should inform how we treat one another. We don’t kill our families if we love them and walk in the love of God. So why do we allow divisions, hatred, and violence to tear apart our communities? It’s time we recognize that our strength and being are in Jesus. Because we claim to be Christians, we must carry ourselves accordingly.
Living out our faith means rejecting the ways of the world and embracing the love ethic. Favoritism, snobbery, and discrimination have no place in a believer’s life. We’re called to love unconditionally, to be God’s love unlimited orchestra, creating a harmony of acceptance, inclusiveness, and unity.
But we can’t be double-minded in this pursuit. We can’t claim to be in the church on Sunday and then act like we’re of the world the rest of the week. As the Apostle Paul urged, we must be transformed by renewing our minds, not conforming to the patterns of this world.
This transformation calls us to see beyond surface-level judgments. The shabby person is our brother or sister. The homeless individual is not defined by their circumstances but by their inherent worth as a child of God. The person struggling with addiction or facing domestic violence is deserving of our love and support.
Practice What You Preach
When we encounter those in need, we should remember that their challenge is ours. We’re called to bless others, recognizing that our material possessions are temporary. Still, our actions of love and kindness have eternal significance.
In the end, death is the great equalizer. Our wealth, status, and worldly achievements won’t matter. How we lived out our faith, loved our neighbors, and reflected Christ’s character in a hurting world will matter.
Our noble name—Christian—comes with privilege and responsibility. We’re called to walk in the authority given to us when we accepted this name, to love unconditionally, and to allow our transformed lives to transform others. We may not be able to reach every person, but we can make a significant impact by living out our faith authentically.
As we navigate life’s challenges, we’re reminded that God is still in charge. He’s the God who loves us, forgives us, strengthens us in our weakness, and heals us. His grace covers all our sins, and His love pardons us. In Jesus, we find the strength to face any storm.
So, let us practice what we preach. Let’s love our neighbors as ourselves, avoiding discrimination and embracing the royal law of love. Remember that God loves everyone—those who vote differently, look differently, speak different languages, or practice their faith differently. Our call is to “love the hell out of them,” reflecting God’s unconditional love for all.
In these turbulent times, we need healing—not just for our physical ailments but also for our spiritual hearts. We need healing for our nation so that we might come together as one people, understanding that we need each other and are called to a higher purpose of unity and love.
As we go forth into the world, let us seek the wisdom of God our Father and Creator. Let us strive to live in community through peace, following the example of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. And let us be led by the Holy Spirit, the spirit of love that empowers us to practice what we preach.
In doing so, we become living testimonies of our faith anchored in Jesus even when storms rage around us. We hold onto Him, knowing He is our assurance and justice will eventually prevail. Our actions demonstrate that our faith is not just words but a transformative power that can change lives and heal our broken world.