By guest writer Jim Millard
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
— Jesus (John 15:12)
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
— 1 John 4:7-11
Dear Friends,
With a little fear and trepidation, I will share my thoughts about what is happening in the U.S. (I may be blasted out of the water, but for most of you your bullets will have to travel thousands of miles to Japan to reach me!)
- Where there are laws, policies, or practices that allow discrimination or racism they should be exposed, opposed and changed. And we should take part in exposing, opposing and changing.
- Changing systems and laws that allow abuse cannot bring healing to the heart. Healing wounds in people’s hearts cannot be legislated but must come through people who walk in love, mercy and humility.
As followers of Jesus, we must live lives of radical love. Jesus’ main command is to love one another the way He loved us. He loved us unconditionally, sacrificially, and personally. He expressed His love by serving us and for sacrificing Himself for us.
What if every believer in America reached out in love to the people around them, especially to people of other colors, races, and creeds? I think this is the will of God. It is the clear command of Jesus!
I know that some will think this is simplistic, but I believe that love is the answer. We must love people with His love. We must be the agents of love and healing to people who are broken and hurting.
The statements from 1 John above are quite challenging. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” But if we do love others it says that we truly know God.
Many Blessings,
Jim Millard
Asian Access Faculty Member
More Information
- 30 Days of Inspiration and other resources from Jim Millard
- Jim is the Founder of Sunrise International Ministries.
- Cover image credit: photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash
- Faculty of Asian Access
