Just Love
From Yara Armenta
During this past Youth Ministry Hangout, which is open for middle and high school students, there was a conversation that stayed on my mind. One of the students had a genuine question about a certain demographic and how we can understand them. My best advice was to ask questions in the most respectful way from a place of genuine curiosity. I emphasized that to do so, you will need to be so rooted in your own faith that their responses won’t shake you, but rather help you find a way to show God’s love to them. Overall, to just love on people, showing them the difference between worldly love and God’s love.
Once we become God’s child, His love becomes so overwhelming and evident in our lives. Who are we to deprive someone of that love? John 13:34 (NKJV) is such a famous verse, which says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” This verse is referring to loving each other as God’s family, but Jesus also said in Matthew 5:44 (NKJV), “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
So, whether a person is part of God’s family or still finding their way to God, love them. The love that God uses through us will lead more to Him because His love is unconditional and faithful. So, the answer to the question of how we interact with different generations, cultures, or demographics, is to just love them. Love them the way that God would love them, and that love will turn lives around and change perspectives. I know that many in this family changed their lives around because someone showed them God’s true love, so imagine how that could influence many others. Just love.
