As Walter Wink puts it, “The contagion of holiness overcomes the contagion of uncleanness.” In short, Jesus moved the emphasis from God’s holiness (exclusive) to God’s mercy (inclusive). Instead of the message “No undesirables allowed,” he proclaimed, “In God’s kingdom there are no undesirables.”
–Philip Yancey
And if that is the case, it is our responsibility to take God’s same view – removing all prejudice, bias, and judgment that puts anyone in a “lower” category than ourselves. In fact, the Scripture tells us that we are to put ourselves in the lowest position: “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.”
Tough to do.
Yet commanded by God.
Father, help me to see others through Your eyes and love them with Your compassion.