Today, I sat in my room nearly in tears wishing I could somehow bring everyone to Jesus. When I think of the God we are able to serve, I also think of the full and wonderful Kingdom He has created for us. And when I look around the world, I just want to bring everyone. Yes, people have wronged me. People have done things and said things and wronged the innocent. I want to bring them too though. I don't believe anyone is too damaged to be loved by God. And knowing that, I have a hunch that no one is too damaged to be loved by us.
Instead of coming at people with verses fully loaded, why don't we just love? Love them for who they are and for what they have done. Love them not despite these things, but because of these things. Love them in a way they never could have imagined. If we can love people like this, then maybe, just maybe, that tiny glimpse of God's love will make them want to see His light in its entirety.
I'm going to be honest, I don't think I can make someone love God by handing them a Bible. Or saying that I will pray for them. Or the multitude of other things us Christians so often think can convince the yet-to-be-believers. These things aren't what brought me to God. People brought me to Him. And I'm not just talking about Christians. I am talking about people who have such a light and love within them that I know something wonderful must be behind it, even if they have yet to figured it out. It's God. Knowing that, I realize that just the opportunity to exist comes with the biggest calling of all. With my existence, I have the ability to show other people the joy and peace that comes with loving God. But most importantly, the constant love I am surrounded by. So much love that I often get overwhelmed by it. How could you not? The people who have yet to accept Jesus into their lives aren't bad people. I think a lot of them are scared. I think they are scared to let themselves believe such a love can exist. And then when we come at them with Bible verses and promises, we bombard them with the details of the story before they even get through the synopsis. The details are apart of the story, apart of our story, but God is the one who began the story. His love is the constant theme throughout it all. At the root of every sermon and verse is God's love. Knowing that He is the constant denominator throughout it all, shouldn't we start there? John 13:34 says, "As I have loved you, love one another." He doesn't love us when it's convenient. He doesn't love us when we are easy to love. He doesn't love us when He feels like it. His love does not waver. Strive to love like God. People can listen to you tell them about God's love a thousand times over, and they still might not get it. However, if you show them God's love, how can they deny it? How can they deny Him? Love a lot more, talk a little less.
No comments:
Post a Comment