Loving Pepper

READ: 1 John 4:7-11

“I know the Bible says God loves everybody, but I don’t really see how He could love Gianna,” Quinn told her older sister as they raked leaves in the backyard.

“Is she that girl in your class who cuts in the cafeteria line?” Tori asked as she filled a large bag with leaves.

“Yes,” said Quinn. “And cheats and steals and says mean things about people.”

Tori was about to respond when Quinn’s dog dashed through their pile of leaves and scattered them all over.

“Pepper!” Tori yelled. “Bad dog!” Just as Quinn and Tori got the scattered leaves raked into a pile again, Pepper appeared with a dead mouse in his mouth. “Oh, gross!” said Tori, jumping away. “Get that thing out of here!” Pepper ran through the leaf pile again as he dashed away.

Pepper returned later when the girls were taking a break and lay down at Quinn’s feet. “Honestly, Quinn,” said Tori, “I don’t see how you can love that creature. Pepper is always getting into trouble and messing things up, and he growls at Grandma every time she comes over.”

“But he has a lot of good qualities too.” Quinn wrapped her arms around Pepper. “Even if he didn’t, I’d still love him because he’s mine!”

“I know you would.” Tori threw Pepper a stick, and he snatched it up and carried it to the opposite side of the yard. “That’s a lot like how God loves us—He created us, and when our sin separated us from Him, He sent Jesus to die for us so we could be His again. He died for everyone in the whole world—including you and me and Gianna. So He must love her too, just like He loves us, right?”

Quinn thought about that. “Yes,” she said at last.

Tori got up and began raking leaves again. “God loves us despite all the bad things we do, and He helps us love others like He does.” Tori smiled as Pepper rushed back over to them, happily chomping on his stick. “I don’t think I’d be able to love Pepper on my own, but since my sister loves him, I can love him too. And it’s the same with Gianna. You can love her because Jesus does.”

–Ruth McQuilkin

How about you? Do you wonder how God can love people who do bad things? God does love those people—including you! He loves you despite all the bad things you’ve done. Jesus loves everyone in the world so much that He was willing to die to save us from sin so we could belong to Him. Show others the love He’s shown you by loving them like He does.

Today's Key Verse: And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)

Today's Key Thought: Learn to love others