Before I start, I wanted to make one thing clear; this isn't to condemn my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are one body and it isn't my intention to point fingers. However, I think not only am I staying accountable for myself in this, but I am opening a few eyes and hearts.

There are many facets to being a Christian. The only real set of straightforward guidelines we have from God is the Ten Commandments, but even then, Christians twist the interpretation of said writing.

If we truly believe the Bible is from God, we must be faithful to what He tells us through His word. Now, many of us are implementing this already, succeeding in works, prayer and spreading of the good news. But something I always see other Christians lacking in is what God himself is known by; Love.

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
1 John 4:8

Many of you are going to read this and think to yourselves, "Well, of course, I love! I love my family, my friends, my neighbors, my spouse, my children..." Stop right there. You love these individuals because you choose to love them. Because it's easy to love them (Most of the time).

But I want to break down how God is speaking to me through this verse.

God himself is everything good in this world. God is hopeful, honest, forgiving, patient, kind, humble. God is love, therefore, to be true messengers of God's character, we must love everyone made in His image. (Ahem, which is every human being.)

Yes. Everyone. Because God loves everyone. Even if that may be difficult for you to understand.

You see, God doesn't call us for the easily accomplished, He calls us to do the difficult things; refrain from what the world has normalized, give when we have little ourselves, defend Him, though we face persecution and rejection in doing so, and love the unloveable.

As Christians, our duty, with practice, is to become more Christ-like and to bring more people to God. What a lot of Christians forget is that Jesus never discriminated. He never shunned the poor, and He never persecuted the broken. He never told anyone they were unloveable, or that they were condemned to an eternity in hell. He hung out with drunkards, thieves, and prostitutes. Never did he treat anyone like they were unworthy of His love, even though He could've.

We must show love in the same way Jesus did. Real, genuine, love.

So the somewhat snobby neighbor of yours? You must love. The person at work that drives you nuts? You must love. The non-believer that pokes at your faith? You especially must love.

When you truly know God and center yourself in Him, you won't be able to do anything less. His love will make what seems impossible, possible. And in knowing that He loves you, you will have a strong desire to want to pour that love out to others.