An inner-city mission worker longed to show Christ’s love to others, but she found it difficult to give genuine affection to one particular vagrant. One day the sickly and unkempt woman to whom she had been witnessing was sentenced to jail. When the Christian worker saw her sobbing bitterly, she was filled with compassion. Quickly going to her side, she tenderly put her arm around her. Never having felt such love, the distressed woman was deeply moved, and later she accepted Jesus as her Savior.

After being released from prison, the woman was nursed back to health by the mission worker. Not only had a needy sinner been rescued, but a Christian had been brought into a deeper experience of Christlike compassion.

God doesn’t love us because we’re lovable but because of His grace. We freely receive His undeserved favor through the Savior, who loved us “while we were still sinners” (Rom. 5:8). We are to reflect this new relationship with Christ in our daily lives by showing His compassion to those who are difficult to love.

As one who has been saved by God’s grace, are you showing His love to the unlovely?

  — Henry G. Bosch