Love Like Jesus

What does witnessing look like? It is being like Jesus. Being kind no matter how unkindly you are treated. Loving the people who are difficult to love. It doesn’t mean that you are always perfect, but that you are allowing Jesus to perfectly work through you!

Ever since Tembo’s heart was captured by the beauty of God’s Word, he knew that he wanted to walk with God, to listen to His voice, and to stay connected with heaven through prayer. Everyone loved Tembo for being kind, thoughtful, and spirit-filled—everyone, that is, except for Juma.* Juma had disliked Tembo ever since they first met. He taunted him and whispered untrue stories behind his back. Sometimes this affected Tembo’s reputation, but Tembo was always kind.

“Did you hear that Juma is very sick?” someone told Tembo one sunny Tanzanian day. “No one—not even his family—wants to be around him, for there is a very bad smell, and no one can stand being in the house except for his wife.”

Tembo felt a quiet voice speak to his mind: Go and help Juma. Without hesitation Tembo did. To Tembo’s surprise, Juma’s family was waiting outside when he reached the house. “What are you doing here?” one man scoffed.

“I’m here to help Juma,” Tembo said.

“He’s not going to live much longer,” another relative said. “And if you step through his door to help and he dies, we will hold you responsible for paying the funeral costs.”

Tembo thought for a moment. Funerals in Tanzania could cost several thousand dollars, and he didn’t have that kind of money. But he couldn’t let his enemy die without knowing Jesus’ love.

Witnessing means not that you are always perfect, but that you are allowing Jesus to perfectly work through you!

As soon as Tembo entered the house, the stench inside overpowered him. His stomach churned, and his lungs begged for fresh air. But when Tembo saw the terrible sore on Juma’s skin, he knew that God had sent him just in time. Praying for stamina and a strong stomach, Tembo turned to Juma’s wife. “I need clean clothes and water to wash his wound. Once I am finished, I will pay for transportation and get him to the hospital right away.”

Juma’s eyes widened, but his lips didn’t move. Tembo gently cleaned the wound and did what he had promised; he paid for the hospital treatments and visited Juma often.

Days passed, and a change happened in Juma’s heart. He tried to understand why Tembo would do such a thing for someone who had treated him so terribly. “When my relatives were waiting for me to die, you took the risk to try to save me,” he marveled.

When Juma recovered enough to return home, Tembo accompanied him. And when they arrived, relatives were swarming around Juma’s house, expecting his funeral. They also expected Tembo to pay according to their agreement. As they walked into the circle of relatives, Juma pointed to his new friend, Tembo: “Do you see this man? He showed me a love that even my relatives did not have. He has become my family.” The funeral didn’t happen, and the relatives went home. Because of Tembo’s selfless act of love, Juma came to know God too.

Do you want to be a missionary, maybe allow God to use you to change the world? If so, love Him first and best—and loving others will happen naturally. Start in your corner of the world, wherever that is, and love the people that He places in your path, whoever they are. Walk with purpose and “hold fast” to your faith (Rev. 3:11). Not a gift, a prayer, or a moment is wasted in the service for the King of kings!