Rescued To Love
The Lord’s purpose for rescuing the Israelite people was greater than releasing them from the oppression they experienced under the Egyptians. (Exodus 19:5-6)
He desired to be in a relationship with them and for them to represent him to the nations. To maintain this right relationship with their Redeemer, and to be a people group set apart for a special purpose, the children of Israel had only to obey the rules the Lord gave them.
Obedience to the rules would cause the children of Israel to look completely different from the other nations in their practices. One of the ways they would demonstrate this distinction between God’s people and other people groups was how they valued everyone they encountered.
In Exodus 21:1-32, we see the Lord teaching His children to care well for those who were impoverished, vulnerable and even those who the world would disregard. It didn’t matter the socioeconomic status, gender, age, nationality, etc. Everyone that had anything to do with the nation of Israel was to be treated as an image bearer of the Creator.
While we are no longer under the old covenant, God communicates the same expectation for the people that rescued from the of slavery to sin, through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus.
He lets us know through 1 Peter 2, that all who have come to Christ are now “a chosen race (people group), a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). And as this set apart people group, the Lord expects us to value all people as well.
We learn in the book of James that we are to show no partiality. We aren’t to treat someone better or worse because of their status. Rather we are to love everyone as Christ loved us. To show partiality is to disobey the voice of the Lord (James 2:8-9). We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. And the Word lets us know how that looks in such passages as Colossians 3:9-17.
We are to have compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love towards all. This is not a suggestion that the Lord makes. It is a command for those who have come to Jesus for refuge. We are to shower people liberally and freely with love. This kind of radically different treatment of all people will cause all people to experience a love that is incomprehensible. The Lord has rescued us for a purpose. He wants us to represent him to the world. And we will do that by living love to all, even if the world thinks some don’t deserve it.
QUESTIONS
1. What are some of the things that make it difficult for you to live out love to all people as the Lord commands us to?
2. Think of where God found you and what he has done for you (Ephesians 2:1-10). Who do you need to extend this kind of love towards?