Biggest Loser or Biggest Lover?

Isn’t it funny how people copy and mimic one another without realizing it? How easily we take on another’s offense or join in spirit with someone without even knowing why?

I was watching Biggest Loser this past week and saw a few things that really began to stir within me. You see each contestant on Biggest Loser gets to have a partner but on this season they sent one partner home for a few weeks to see how much weight they could loose on their own while the other partner stayed at the show with the benefit of trainers. When it was finally time for the sent home partners to return the show weighed them all to see their progress. Everyone that was sent home lost a surprisingly large amount of weight expect one girl who only lost 2 lbs. She tried to make excuses about why she lost such a small number but the trainers quickly put her in her place by basically saying she lost a small number because she put in a small amount of work toward that goal. But all to soon does this contestant forget her shortcomings because later in the show the trainers get on this other girl’s case named Joelle for being lazy and unproductive in the gym. The trainers had issues with Joelle’s performance for awhile and it had stirred up a few of the other teams already but in this episode the very girl who lost only 2 lbs was seemingly the ring leader of accusation and condemnation toward this other girl Joelle.

It really made me think about how soon we forget our own need for mercy and grace. How often we forget the extent in which God has stretched His arm to us. We are so quick at condemning and accusing others of the very things we have been guilty of. Not only did this show highlight our eagerness to point the finger at someone but it also showed how quickly others jump on board to condemn someone just because someone else is doing it. Why do we take part in such spirits? Do we even ask ourselves “why?” we feel what we feel or say what we say? How many times are we taking on someone else’s offense or bad attitude for no reason at all, just going with the flow but obviously the wrong flow.

I’d encourage each of us including myself to slow down and examine what flow we are choosing to flow with. As Christians we need to be different. Let’s extend mercy where others are not. Let’s give the benefit of the doubt to those in need. Let’s speak life not death. Just because everyone else is mad at someone doesn’t mean you should jump on board. I acutely challenge you not to jump on board but to stand up for those who can not stand up for themselves. It doesn’t matter what a person’s done, they are never to far that God’s love can not reach. As Christians we should be the first to chase others down with God’s mercy. Don’t allow unclean and bitter spirits to influence the love you extend. Step away from the crowd and their flow and begin to walk up stream. Be the life, love and grace the world needs. The ones that frustrate us the most are the ones who need our love the most.