Yesterday, I finished reading the book I mentioned in my last post, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff. The book was phenomenal, and Bob shares so many stories and bits of wisdom that spoke to my heart. After I finished, it struck me that Bob was really onto something with the radical love he talked about. I’ve often been really bothered by the divisive political and social climate of our current culture. I’ve often looked at both sides and thought, “Where would Jesus be in all of this? What would he say?”
In his book, Bob Goff tells a story about a young boy named Charlie in Uganda. Charlie was abducted by a witch doctor and brutally mutilated, intended for child sacrifice. I’m leaving out so many incredible details, but I’ll do my best to summarize. Charlie managed to escape and Bob went on to represent him in court. He became his legal guardian. Bob helped him get reconstructive surgery and took him to Disneyland. They even climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro together. Talk about love, right? It’s an incredible story!
And yet… YET, the story isn’t over! Bob knows that, as Christians, we are commanded to love our enemies. Who is his biggest enemy? The witch doctor that hurt Charlie and others like him who sacrifice children in Uganda. Bob visits this witch doctor, named Kabi, on death row in prison. He befriends Kabi and teaches him about Jesus. Then, Bob shares the gospel with a bunch more witch doctors. He washes their feet. He also opens a school for witch doctors. This school meets one of their biggest needs: learning to read.
It struck me that THIS is the kind of love that Jesus is talking about. We aren’t commanded to love only the people who are easy to love. We are also commanded to love the people who are difficult. THIS is where I see Jesus if He came to earth right now. As Bob’s book title states, “everybody, always.” This is really hard for us to swallow. Bob said, “I was reminded again how grace never seems fair until you need some.” None of us deserve grace. If it was fair, it wouldn’t be grace.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48
This past Sunday, our pastor told a story about a conversation he had with a mentor of his. The mentor said that sometimes he asks God for just one word. He doesn’t always need a detailed plan. He simply asks for one word from God that should be his current focus. This resonated with me, because I’ve spent a lot of time praying for clarity and direction lately. I want so badly to do the “next right thing” and honor God with my life. Yet, I still have no idea what that next thing is or what direction He’s taking me. I instantly started meditating on and praying about what word God would tell me right now. Several words came to mind, but nothing felt quite right for several days. As I finished Bob’s book last night, I felt like the Holy Spirit cleared his throat loudly behind me and whispered “Love.”
You see, every word I mentally held up to God saying “Is this my word?” is a word that will be fruit, naturally produced out of love. I must love God first and people second. Everything else that was on my heart and mind will naturally grow from love.
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31
Now, before you come at me, am I saying that we should accept everything everyone does as okay? Does love mean we affirm everyone’s choices? No, absolutely not. The Bible is very clear on sin. Jesus didn’t tell the prostitutes, “Do what makes you feel good!” He treated them with love and respect. He met them where they were. He also said, “Go and turn from your life of sin.” Bob Goff didn’t tell the witch doctors that child sacrifice was okay. He didn’t excuse their actions based on their culture or childhood. He simply met them where they were. He loved them and shared the gospel with them. He taught them to read. THAT is what love is. Love says, I love you enough to take action. It says, I love you enough to tell you the truth with grace and love. Most importantly, it says, I love you enough to care about where you spend eternity.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Thinking about Bob Goff’s journey and his radical love, it’s clear that love isn’t just a feeling, it’s an action. It means stepping out of our comfort zones to show grace and compassion, even to those who are hard to love. It’s about living like Jesus taught us, every single day. When we choose to love “everybody, always,” we bring a bit of light into the world. Let’s go out there and show that kind of love—it might just change everything.
selah and salt 