Treat People Like They Are Amazing
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Treating People Like They're Amazing: The Counter-Cultural Call to Love
We live in a world obsessed with self. From the moment we wake up to the time we close our eyes at night, we're bombarded with messages telling us to prioritize ourselves, meet our own needs, and ensure our happiness above all else. Social media feeds showcase carefully curated lives designed to make us feel we're not measuring up. Marketing campaigns convince us we're lacking something essential. Our culture has become profoundly egocentric—focused on what I want, what I need, what I deserve.
But what happens when this self-centered mindset infiltrates our relationships? When two people approach each other with the attitude of "what can you do for me?" the foundation crumbles before it's even built. This is the crisis of our modern relational landscape—everyone wanting to receive, few willing to give.
The biblical vision for how we treat one another stands in stark, beautiful contrast to this cultural norm. It's not just different—it's radically counter-cultural. And it begins with understanding something fundamental about ourselves.
Lavished With Love
The Apostle John opens his first epistle's third chapter with these remarkable words: "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1, NIV)
Notice that word: lavished. Not sprinkled. Not rationed. Not measured out in careful doses. Lavished—poured out abundantly, overflowing, relentless. God's love for you isn't a trickle; it's a flood. It's the image of a cup so full it spills over into the saucer, and still it keeps coming.
This love isn't conditional. God doesn't say, "I'll love you if you measure up" or "I'll love you as long as you don't disappoint me." His love isn't performance-based. It's "I love you because" and "I love you even though."
Many of us struggle to grasp this because our earthly experiences have taught us that love comes with conditions. We've learned that affection can be withdrawn, that acceptance must be earned, that we're only valued when we're useful. But God's love operates on entirely different principles.
The truth is simple but profound: You are a son or daughter of God. You possess the full power and authority that comes with that identity. The devil doesn't have dominion over you—you have authority over him. You may have sinned and fallen short, but grace fills the gap between where you are and where God's standard is.
The Command to Love Others
Once we understand how deeply we are loved, we encounter the challenging instruction that flows from it: "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
This isn't a suggestion. It's not optional. It's a commitment God calls us to make.
And here's where it gets difficult: Did you earn God's love? No. Therefore, do the people around you need to earn yours? Also no.
God loved you when you were unlovable. He loved you before you did anything to deserve it. He loved you at your worst. And now He asks you to extend that same unconditional love to others—even when they don't deserve it, even when they're difficult, even when they're your enemies.
Romans 12:9-21 paints a vivid picture of what this love looks like in practice:
The Hardest Part: Loving Enemies
It's easy to love people who are kind to you. It's easy when they like you back, when they meet your needs, when they cause no problems. But loving your enemies? That's where the rubber meets the road.
When someone is actively working against you, undermining you, causing you pain—that's when loving them feels impossible. Yet Scripture is clear: "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44).
And here's the counter-cultural kicker: You're called to put others' needs above your own.
Immediately, the questions arise: "But what about me? Who's going to look out for my interests? What if nobody loves me like that?" These questions reveal just how deeply the self-focused culture has shaped our thinking.
First John 4:7-8 cuts to the heart of the matter: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
That's sobering. If we cannot love—truly love, not just say the words—we don't know God. Because God is love. It's not just something He does; it's who He is fundamentally.
Love in Action, Not Just Words
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
Love must be demonstrated. It's not enough to have a nice slogan or to say the right things. People need to experience love through our actions.
Think about the people you'll encounter this week. You'll meet nice people and difficult people. You'll interact with those who are pleasant and those who are downright rude. Each one is a son or daughter of God. Each one is someone He lavishly loves. Each one is someone He thinks is amazing.
When you treat people like they're amazing—before they've proven themselves worthy of it—you change the dynamic. You diffuse tension. You offer something our culture desperately lacks: unconditional acceptance.
Our world constantly tells people they don't measure up. Advertising is built on making you feel inadequate so you'll buy products to fix yourself. Fashion magazines showcase impossible standards. Social media creates comparison traps. We have an entire culture of people desperately seeking approval, acceptance, and love.
And here stands the church, filled with people who claim to follow the God of love, with an incredible opportunity: to love people the way God loves them.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Here's the beautiful truth that takes the pressure off: You're not responsible for saving anyone. You're not responsible for healing anyone. You're not responsible for transforming anyone. That's the Holy Spirit's job.
Your job is simpler, though not easier: Love people. Tell them the truth. Keep loving them.
When you genuinely love people and treat them as the amazing creations God made them to be, the Holy Spirit goes to work. Transformation happens—not because of your eloquence or persuasive arguments, but because love creates an environment where the Spirit can move.
All glory goes to God, where it belongs.
The Challenge
As you go through your week, here's the challenge: Treat every person like they're amazing. Love them as God loves them. When it's hard—and it will be hard—pause. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for help. Then keep loving.
For those of us who are quick to react, we need to give the Holy Spirit time to check our responses before we speak or act. For those of us who are slow to anger but deliberate when we finally react, we need to surrender our irritation before it turns into justified retaliation.
Neither approach honors God. Both need the Spirit's intervention.
Can you do this perfectly? No. None of us can. But that's where grace comes in. When your ability stops, God's Spirit continues. With His help, what seems impossible becomes possible.
This is counter-cultural living. It goes against everything our world teaches. But it's exactly what a hurting, approval-starved world needs to see from those who claim to follow Jesus.
So go. Love lavishly. Treat people like they're amazing. And watch what God does through you.
We live in a world obsessed with self. From the moment we wake up to the time we close our eyes at night, we're bombarded with messages telling us to prioritize ourselves, meet our own needs, and ensure our happiness above all else. Social media feeds showcase carefully curated lives designed to make us feel we're not measuring up. Marketing campaigns convince us we're lacking something essential. Our culture has become profoundly egocentric—focused on what I want, what I need, what I deserve.
But what happens when this self-centered mindset infiltrates our relationships? When two people approach each other with the attitude of "what can you do for me?" the foundation crumbles before it's even built. This is the crisis of our modern relational landscape—everyone wanting to receive, few willing to give.
The biblical vision for how we treat one another stands in stark, beautiful contrast to this cultural norm. It's not just different—it's radically counter-cultural. And it begins with understanding something fundamental about ourselves.
Lavished With Love
The Apostle John opens his first epistle's third chapter with these remarkable words: "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1, NIV)
Notice that word: lavished. Not sprinkled. Not rationed. Not measured out in careful doses. Lavished—poured out abundantly, overflowing, relentless. God's love for you isn't a trickle; it's a flood. It's the image of a cup so full it spills over into the saucer, and still it keeps coming.
This love isn't conditional. God doesn't say, "I'll love you if you measure up" or "I'll love you as long as you don't disappoint me." His love isn't performance-based. It's "I love you because" and "I love you even though."
Many of us struggle to grasp this because our earthly experiences have taught us that love comes with conditions. We've learned that affection can be withdrawn, that acceptance must be earned, that we're only valued when we're useful. But God's love operates on entirely different principles.
The truth is simple but profound: You are a son or daughter of God. You possess the full power and authority that comes with that identity. The devil doesn't have dominion over you—you have authority over him. You may have sinned and fallen short, but grace fills the gap between where you are and where God's standard is.
The Command to Love Others
Once we understand how deeply we are loved, we encounter the challenging instruction that flows from it: "As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
This isn't a suggestion. It's not optional. It's a commitment God calls us to make.
And here's where it gets difficult: Did you earn God's love? No. Therefore, do the people around you need to earn yours? Also no.
God loved you when you were unlovable. He loved you before you did anything to deserve it. He loved you at your worst. And now He asks you to extend that same unconditional love to others—even when they don't deserve it, even when they're difficult, even when they're your enemies.
Romans 12:9-21 paints a vivid picture of what this love looks like in practice:
- Let love be sincere
- Be devoted to one another in brotherly love
- Honor one another above yourselves
- Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse
- Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn
- Live in harmony
- Do not be proud
- Do not repay evil for evil
- If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone
- Do not take revenge
- If your enemy is hungry, feed him
The Hardest Part: Loving Enemies
It's easy to love people who are kind to you. It's easy when they like you back, when they meet your needs, when they cause no problems. But loving your enemies? That's where the rubber meets the road.
When someone is actively working against you, undermining you, causing you pain—that's when loving them feels impossible. Yet Scripture is clear: "Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44).
And here's the counter-cultural kicker: You're called to put others' needs above your own.
Immediately, the questions arise: "But what about me? Who's going to look out for my interests? What if nobody loves me like that?" These questions reveal just how deeply the self-focused culture has shaped our thinking.
First John 4:7-8 cuts to the heart of the matter: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
That's sobering. If we cannot love—truly love, not just say the words—we don't know God. Because God is love. It's not just something He does; it's who He is fundamentally.
Love in Action, Not Just Words
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18).
Love must be demonstrated. It's not enough to have a nice slogan or to say the right things. People need to experience love through our actions.
Think about the people you'll encounter this week. You'll meet nice people and difficult people. You'll interact with those who are pleasant and those who are downright rude. Each one is a son or daughter of God. Each one is someone He lavishly loves. Each one is someone He thinks is amazing.
When you treat people like they're amazing—before they've proven themselves worthy of it—you change the dynamic. You diffuse tension. You offer something our culture desperately lacks: unconditional acceptance.
Our world constantly tells people they don't measure up. Advertising is built on making you feel inadequate so you'll buy products to fix yourself. Fashion magazines showcase impossible standards. Social media creates comparison traps. We have an entire culture of people desperately seeking approval, acceptance, and love.
And here stands the church, filled with people who claim to follow the God of love, with an incredible opportunity: to love people the way God loves them.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
Here's the beautiful truth that takes the pressure off: You're not responsible for saving anyone. You're not responsible for healing anyone. You're not responsible for transforming anyone. That's the Holy Spirit's job.
Your job is simpler, though not easier: Love people. Tell them the truth. Keep loving them.
When you genuinely love people and treat them as the amazing creations God made them to be, the Holy Spirit goes to work. Transformation happens—not because of your eloquence or persuasive arguments, but because love creates an environment where the Spirit can move.
All glory goes to God, where it belongs.
The Challenge
As you go through your week, here's the challenge: Treat every person like they're amazing. Love them as God loves them. When it's hard—and it will be hard—pause. Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for help. Then keep loving.
For those of us who are quick to react, we need to give the Holy Spirit time to check our responses before we speak or act. For those of us who are slow to anger but deliberate when we finally react, we need to surrender our irritation before it turns into justified retaliation.
Neither approach honors God. Both need the Spirit's intervention.
Can you do this perfectly? No. None of us can. But that's where grace comes in. When your ability stops, God's Spirit continues. With His help, what seems impossible becomes possible.
This is counter-cultural living. It goes against everything our world teaches. But it's exactly what a hurting, approval-starved world needs to see from those who claim to follow Jesus.
So go. Love lavishly. Treat people like they're amazing. And watch what God does through you.
Posted in hope, Practical Faith
Posted in #bibleteaching, #practicalfaith, #love, #pastorstevenlarrabee, #lacrossecommunityCOTN
Posted in #bibleteaching, #practicalfaith, #love, #pastorstevenlarrabee, #lacrossecommunityCOTN
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