As we near the end of a mini-series on the book of Obadiah (yes, it’s really in the Bible – it’s just really short and can be hard to find), and as we consider the poor treatment of the Jewish nation by the Edomites when Nebuchadnezzar was allowed to overthrow Jerusalem, I think that this is a good time to remember God’s commands to love others. Paul reminds us about serving each other in love in his letter to the church in Galatia.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Galatians 5:13 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/gal.5.13.NIV
As an example of how this might apply to you or me today, consider countries who are opposing your own. (In my case, it’s pretty straightforward, but I think that every nation has its rivals or opponents.) One approach to deal with this is what I sometimes hear on the news: individuals in my country who are insulted, attacked, or abused, just because they look or talk in a way that suggests they emigrated from a foreign country whose government has set itself up against our own.
Even for those who are citizens of countries whose government is dead set against our own, though, Christians need to remember that Jesus called us to love our neighbors. And, even if some of these people do happen to hate you, Jesus even told His disciples to love our enemies! (See Matthew 5:43-48 and Luke 6:27-36.) So, if you consider yourself to be a follower of Jesus, are you willing to be a disciple that obeys all of His commands? (I’m still working on that, myself.)
Or, if one of those countries’ oppressive governments was overthrown or lost a war, would we gloat and blame it on their beliefs or their opposition to God? Or, through loving others selflessly (like Jesus) and humbly serving others in Jesus’ name (like Paul), would we take in their people (many of whom didn’t agree with their own government in the first place) and look out for them? Would we help to restore them as individuals and to rebuild their country into one that recognizes the authority of God and values people like He does?
In addition, I personally believe that we can take different approaches and attitudes towards a group’s or government’s secular or pagan attitude, versus our attitude towards individuals who are part of that group. For instance, we might seek better leaders for our fellow human beings, doing what we can (ethically) to replace a government that hurts people with a government that leads them towards God. Ultimately, though, it is God who decides where to place, maintain, and overthrow nations (see Acts 17:26-27), so our role in this is always subservient to His own.
We might seek for false teachers to change their tune or at least be removed from platforms where they can spread lies. However, even correction – at least in the church – should be loving and considerate. Remember that the goal of Biblical correction within the church is not the destruction of others or for us to be “right”. It should be done out of love for those who have gone astray, along with those who could be led astray by false teaching.
We might seek for people to turn away from sin (which we know harms them), and turn to God (who offers not only salvation and an eternal life with Him as the source of all good, but also a better way for each of us to live). This is to be done in love, though, emulating God, rather than copying the strategies of evil forces who try to compel or force people to their side. Some of this involves helping people understand God’s love (ref. John 3:16) and how great He is. We can find perspective in that by remembering how much God loved us while we were yet sinners (ref. Romans 5:6-8), and trying to do the same for other “sinners” around us.
Or, we might find that individuals of a certain nationality align more with us than we realize, and perhaps are even closer to God (because of the persecution they endure) than we are! I believe that there are persecuted Christians in the world whose faith is stronger than my own, at least partly due to how often it has been tested.
Let’s remember Paul’s admonition today, and focus on serving others in love. That should fill up our hearts so that we don’t abuse our freedom in Christ, and keep temptation at bay when it prompts us to unfairly judge others.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for August 3, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Minor Prophets Volume 1 (Hosea-Micah), by Harold Shank. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 