CHANGING OUR "JESUS-LOVES-YOU-FAMILIARITY"

"Jesus loves you."
"God loves you."

Words we are so familiar with. It became so familiar that to many it is just an expression or a quotation. The worst thing is that these words have been used by religion and churches in their own context and perspectives. Oftentimes, the comfort "God loves you" is just given to the lovable but not to the unloveable. We can say outright to good people these words, but to the worst of sinners who are annoyance to our society, we are taciturn to say this. We have seen religious people with a "cause" rallying in the streets condemning some "evil" people declaring that there is hell, and somehow they can never use these words, "God loves you." Somehow, we can just say "God loves you" to religious people but we think twice if we can say these to the fallen, to the unchurched or to people who sinned. To the "worst of sinners" whom we branded - the prostitutes, the "gays", the criminals, the corrupt, and others - we cannot declare these words to them. The religious people became so familiar with "Jesus loves you" that we cannot share it to those who are not familiar with it.

Somehow, these words are but for the sweet and for the lovable. We never realized that these words, "Jesus loves you," is not an expression nor a sweet quotation. These words were written in blood. This is not a sweet word but a "dirty" word so to speak. Jesus became "dirty" as he carried that cross, as he was spit upon by people, and as he hung on that cross. Jesus did all of these declaring that Jesus loves everybody!

Saying "Jesus loves you" is not based on our own context and perception who qualifies to be covered with God's love and who is only worthy to hear these words. Jesus loves everybody - the most sinful and even the religious people.

Maybe it's time to be enlightened and move from what is familiar.
How?
Get out to the street, look for someone who is branded as worst of sinners by our society, and start by whispering as if you are speaking to that person and say, "Jesus loves you."
This is the start and you will discover that the used-to-be familiar words "Jesus loves you" to you will come alive and will have a deeper meaning. Your prejudice will be gone, your legalistic mindset will be gone, and your selfishness will be gone.

Now, then let us change the spotlight from those "worst of sinners" to -

   you.

How many times you can easily declare the words "Jesus loves me" just because you are faithful in the church? or just because you have done good things in your life? or maybe you have been performing nicely in your religious activities? But why you can't declare these words, "Jesus loves me" when we fall into sin? when we became inactive in the church? when we made a shameful sin?

Now, let us get out of the familiar and let us make these words real in your life. Think for a moment the worst sin which you have done in your life and the sin for which you have been ashamed of, and declare verbally with boldness -

"Jesus... loves me."

God loves you not based on your performance. Remember, God loves you already even in your worst.

"Jesus loves you." The "you" here represents all kinds of people. Change the "you" with any kind of sinner you can think of, and the words will still fit because it is Jesus who loves, not us. And when we see these people how Jesus loves them, then we can move out from the familiar, and love them with authenticity.