Love Has No Limits

Love Has No Limits
Volunteering at the Vincentian Family Center brings me joy. Every Saturday, nearly 1,000 families receive food, and I serve in the thrift store, where people from all walks of life come through the doors — some searching for bargains, others for basic necessities.

There’s a homeless man who comes directly to me at the store. He carries his few possessions in a plastic bag. He doesn’t smell great, but he always seeks me out. I greet him, but if I’m honest, I’ve found myself gravitating toward customers who are easier to serve.

Then Sunday came, and in our Lamplighters’ Bible Study, our teacher, Zack Dawes, rocked my world when he spoke about James 2:2-4. It cut straight to my heart:

“If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Ouch and oh me! I had been judging, not loving like I should. Preferring the easy over the uncomfortable. Then James 2:5 reminded me:

“Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised?”

I was struck by those eye-and-heart-opening words! So, the next time I saw the homeless man, I was prepared to give him honor and appreciation. Time came, and he headed straight to me and blurted out, “You know I’m gay!”

It didn’t shock me and without hesitation, I replied, “I know you are a child of God, and He loves you — and He wants you to love Him.”

That’s all I said. A seed planted. A tree of love may grow. Just maybe, God is using me (maybe, you, too!) to be one of His representatives for loving and serving the “whosoevers” that He welcomes and says: “Come!”

Romans 2:11 declares, “God does not show favoritism.” His love has no limits, and neither should mine.

So now, I’m on a mission — more intentional than ever before — to love like Jesus and see people as God sees them. Next time, I just may ask if I can pray for him. Who knows? Maybe there’s a corner of his heart waiting for The One who can turn his life around. I’ll keep you posted!