Author: Pastor Claude Thomas

A little boy went to church services one Sunday in response to the encouragement of some friends from school. The little fellow was feeling insecure since “church” was out of his comfort zone. But he also felt a little excited because he really did like the idea of going to “Sunday School” and “church” with some friends. But something happened that fateful morning the shaped his attitude about “church people” for many years to come. He was scarred by the experience.
What happened? Well, he did not dress like the other people at church that Sunday. You see, it was still the time when people, even little boys, wore special dress clothes to church. All the little fellow had was a pair of clean blue jeans and a clean polo shirt. And he wore them. And guess what happened. One of the “churchy” teachers scolded the little fellow for not “dressing up” to come to church.
How did he feel? Terrible! Rejected! And less than the “other children.” How did he respond? Well, he never returned to that church. And he did not attend church as a child or teen-ager. It was not until he was an adult he went to church again. The occasion? A funeral of a friend!
That is sad… and so unlike Jesus. He loves all of us. And we do not have to “dress up” to gain His attention or love. He loves us unconditionally. He desires to have a relationship with us… regardless of who we are and where we have been.
Contemplate these true words from Scripture: God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. (1 John 4:9-11 NLT)
Consider how you and I have been loved by God and let us show that same kind of love to others.