Hello
Can you recall the war talk of childhood? Was pretty silly for a good portion, and incisive for the rest, yes. Perhaps the worst part was the lie which claimed that those words had no power. Recovering from childhood spats isn’t easy. Recovering from youthful or adult rejection – devastation. And yet, many of us are guilty of prejudices, discrimination, perhaps even hate. Doesn’t sit well with our God as indicated by today’s Holy Nougat
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” 1 John 4:12 NLT
This is more than just “we are the only Bible some people read”; although it’s part of it. This is about representation and perjury and salvation and more! If no one can see God, and our ‘love’ life is that which bears testimony of God, would our case for God’s existence hold up in court? If someone is searching for ‘no strings’ platonic or agape love; could the person hit the jackpot with us?
Lord, we’re supposed to love because You live within and You are Love itself. Yet we grumble if we have to extend ourselves for those we claim to love, and our lives suggest that we are selective about who we love. And the full expression of Your love – Lord forgive us. Please. Renew us; saturate us. Equip us. Teach us first what Love truly is, that we might love You, ourselves And our neighbors as our selves.
Remind us that neighborliness isn’t restricted to ‘alike-ness’; rather Your neighborhood extends to include the hurtful, the broken, the sick, repulsive and dying; especially the ones who insist we go the extra mile. For You Lord, may we love; and eventually may it be an expression of our true selves we pray, in Jesus name amen
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
