I heard a great story on the radio yesterday. This woman told of how she works at the drive through of her local fast food restaurant. With each customer that comes through she quotes the price of the food after they order and finishes up with an "I love you." Sounds crazy, right? Yet think about it. It's not so crazy when you hold this practice up to Scripture.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 8:5 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 5:43-45 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
I could go on and on with this list of Scriptures. But the gist of it is, God loved us, we are to love others. And what does the world need more than anything right now? God's love shown through His people. A genuine, deep caring about other human beings that shows the light of Jesus and reaches across divides and touches hearts.
The lady who works at the fast food restaurant put it perfectly when she said, "If people can hate for no reason, why can't I love for no reason."
Lord, let us be vessels of Your love. I think of those planters that hold strawberries, they have holes all over the sides where the plants pop out....Let us be like that, vessels with holes in the sides for Your love to flow out of. The world is filled with anger and hate...and it's so easy to get caught up in the rhetoric. It's so easy to get into the "We're right, you're wrong" mindset, feeling holier than though about our position....but Jesus didn't show us that way. Lord help us to follow Your example of loving all You came in contact with. Let us stand up for the Gospel in a way that loves and opens doors to reach the world that You desperately love...It's Your will Lord that "none should perish." Lord, fill us with Your love, fill us each day to overflowing. Help us be creative in the ways we show that love. Help us to make our corner of the world a better place, where You shine. Forgive us any hatred in our own hearts. Forgive us our own sins, we are not perfect....Your children seek You Lord, Your ways, Your face....bring healing to this world Lord. Let us be Your hands and feet to work out that healing and walk the Gospel among the nations. It's in Jesus' powerful Name I pray. Amen.
How can you open doors for God's love to flow through you to the people you meet today? Let's get creative! Tell someone, or many someones you love them!
2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
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