“Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.”
Do I treat people in such a way that I can open a letter to them with the word “Beloved”? Do I conduct myself in a way that makes that greeting seem normal?
To call someone beloved there must be an intentional granting of importance…a spiritual adoption that sets their value as one made in the image of God.
We know Peter was an “A” type, man’s man. He argued with Jesus, he cut off ears, walked on water, brashly stated opinions…. So, tenderness did not come naturally to Peter…Yet he begins his second letter with this gentle word. The letter addresses sin and failure by the recipients but to Peter they are still “beloved”.
This is a great template for my own ministry. It reveals an important requirement if I am to be a disciple…affection.
Ministry is fun – but dealing with people can make it a burden…If I allow that to be my approach, I have not earned the right to speak…If I cannot view others as beloved, I have nothing to offer them.
After a decade of coaching, I figured out that the kid that was the most trouble, and least needed on the team – was usually the one that needed the team the most. And that kid naturally knew whether you cared about him or not, since because of his conduct, he had experienced hostility and rejection before.
That kid is who I was before I knew Christ - and he will resemble others that God brings across my path.
Hurt people, hurt people - and I need to look past their behavior and see them as an opportunity to share Christ - not a burden.
I must love them at a level they recognize as “other worldly”. My love must be undeserved…the way Christ loves me.
Only then will I have earned the right to share the gospel. Only when they see that they are valuable in my eyes will they listen to me sharing God’s plan of salvation.
“Don’t tell them Jesus loves them, until you’re ready to love them too.”
– Steve Camp
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