It depends!

What would I give to save the life of a family member?  My retirement nest egg?  My house?  My life? 

What if the life needing saving were not a family member, but a friend?  Would I dip into my savings account?  Start a fund to which others could contribute?  Donate bone marrow or a kidney, even? 

So, what would I give if this person were merely an acquaintance?  Maybe I’d spare a little something from my checking account?  Contribute toward their medical bills? 

And if it were a complete stranger, the one who asked for help, what would I give?  Just enough to assuage my conscience, perhaps, in case the request was legit?  Nothing at all? 

But what if the someone in dire straits were that one person who had only showed me disrespect, contempt and antagonism my entire life?  Would my response be anything other than, “It serves him right!” or “She’s getting her due”? 

That’s the way our sinful selves are wired.  If we love and how much we love – they both hinge on others’ closeness to us and their behavior toward us.  So even our mercy is self-centered and conditional!  Sad, but true. 

But that’s not God!  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.¹  His “whosoever” invitation reaches out even to those farthest away from him. And our behavior is no prerequisite to his mercy!  But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.² 

Christ crucified is God’s ultimate expression of love for us, the undeserving.  Now, that is love.  It is the love by which we were saved.  It is the love in which we are called to serve others.  No matter who. 

Today. 

¹ John 3:16
² Romans 5:8