Proverbs 14:31
How we treat people is how we treat God.
It's that simple.
It's that frightening.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20
If you're a parent, you can relate to this: if someone is kind to your children, shows them love, it is as if they are showing you love and kindness.
At our school's spring concert a couple months ago I watched a fellow student let my 10 year old daughter hold onto her while they sang. And this same girl helped my Maggie up and down off the risers. This little girl (named Molly) showed sweetness and patience to my Maggie. Her sweetness brought tears to my eyes and I felt like she did it for me personally. My Maggie doens't walk well and she can be kind of wobbly -- especially on risers.
God's kids aren't perfect. People can be really nasty. Yet, we are to show all people (Believers and those who as yet don't believe) kindness and love and patience. Don't be swindled. Don't be deceived, but this world needs more kindness, patience and love from her residents to other residents of planet earth.
Marshall Ball (http://Marshallball.com) is a young man who cannot talk or walk but this hasn't stopped him from touching the world. He has moved mountains with words he has written by pointing to a letterboard and others write them down. One of his poems has a line that says, "When you judge another person you are judging God."
Think about that. It's profound, quite sobering.