I want you to picture a few people you know. Whether you are close with them or not, the first people who pop into your head. Picture their faces. Think about what Jesus did to get those people closer to him. Think of the torture he endured so they could be forgiven. Think of how they were on his mind as he hung on the cross. Jesus pursued those people from Heaven to Earth to bring them into his family. He did the same for you. Now let me ask you this… what is stopping you from deeply pursuing those people in a familial way? Us as Christ followers are a family of believers but are we really acting like it? It is natural for us to love our biological family and significant other with everything we have but it does feel a little unnatural to love those we aren’t related to in the same manner. But.. isn’t that the supernatural love that we are called to?

If we look at the story of Ruth and Naomi in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament, we find a sacrificial friendship that was intended for us with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I won’t go too much into the historical background of who they were but Naomi and Ruth had little in common. They were from different cultures, places, families and Naomi was older than Ruth. Despite their differences, they established a deep bond. They both knew loss; they were both widows. But, most importantly, Naomi introduced Ruth to God because she wanted Ruth to experience the joy of having a relationship with the King of Kings. God was the footing of their friendship and because of their relationship with God, they held each other accountable to their faith. Ruth showed us what it means to fight for each other. She blessed Naomi with her friendship. Ruth owed nothing to Naomi and instead gave her everything. In Ruth 1: 16-17 (AMP)..

Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do the same to me [as He has done to you], and more also, if anything but death separates me from you.” 

Isn’t this the sacrificial love that Christ wants us to have for one another? In the New Testament, the phrase “one another” is mentioned over 100 times. (Love one another, care for one another, pray for one another, etc). In John 13:34, Jesus says, “as I have loved you, you must love one another.” Jesus is literally saying that we must love each other as sacrificially and supernaturally in the same way that he loves us! Now you are probably saying to yourself, “I love my friends”. I don’t doubt that you do. BUT is it a sacrificial kind of love? Jesus says in Luke 6: 32-34 ESV, that even sinners know how to love.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.”

It is not hard to love someone but are you loving your brothers and sisters how Ruth loved Naomi? I don’t want to come across as being someone who is perfect at this. I am FAR from it but I strive to love the people around me in the same manner that Ruth loved Naomi. Yeah, it doesn’t feel natural. Here’s the thing though, if we only obey when it feels natural, then Jesus is not truly Lord of our lives. Our love for another is what will attract the world (John 13:35) so don’t hold back. Fight for those the Lord has placed in your life. Take God’s command to love each other as family seriously. I thoroughly believe that is where blessings will flow.