Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Last night, I saw love in action. As 18 people filled up our living room and over-sized couch, it was nothing short of amazing. One person, a woman in her late 80s, shared the blessings of people a part of the family that is in Christ. Another person shared how she overcame her own hard feelings toward another member and sacrificially dispensed grace to that woman, who had “smiled for the first time” to the woman as a response. We heard how we are brothers and sisters bound by blood, affirming one another, praying for one another, and caring for one another. We were definitely the church last night!
Two main points came out of our evening. First, being members of one another is based on love. We love because God first loved us. God wants us to follow His example, and our love toward each other is a love that comes from Him.
Second, we express this love through serving. Our love is best shown as a living, loving object lesson as we dispense grace to the world. This means that your love expressed is not dependent on another’s thankfulness, or that they “deserve” it, or that they are a “nice” person- in fact, the opposite is true! Jesus said in Matthew 5:46, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?” People, all people need a love that God wants you to give- an unselfish, humble love that does not need to be reciprocated.
That said, what are you doing to show God’s love? Are you loving those who only love you, or are you willing to love the hard to love ones? Live it, express it, be the church!
Pastor Fran
