Today Romans 8:38 & 39 came up as the verse of the day on my bible app.
For I have every confidence that nothing—not death, life, heavenly messengers, dark spirits, the present, the future, spiritual powers, height, depth, nor any created thing—can come between us and the love of God revealed in the Anointed, Jesus our Lord.
I started thinking about what love really looks like. I don’t see a lot of love in our world these days. We say that we love, but I think we only love those we choose to love or at the very least we only extend love those that agree with us, think like us or have the same belief system we do. I am not saying that I have the answers, but when I read this I was reminded of what Paul says about love in 1 Cor. 13:4-7
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
The blessing of social media is that it really can become a mirror reflecting our own hearts. What makes you offended? Who have you removed from your feed because seeing another being blessed, when you don’t agree with their life choices, makes you angry. We tend to only surround ourselves with people who agree with us that social media can be the place God uses to dig at those deep places within us. Our choice is to see and pray or to deflect by saying that those who are different are _________, whatever word choice you choose to use.
Prov. 4:23 So above all, guard the affection of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.
We are living in a turbulent time. During this time, protect your heart, watch over it and guard it against fear & hatred.
Prov. 10:11-13 The teachings of the lovers of God are like living truth flowing from the fountain of life, but the words of the wicked hide an ulterior motive. Hatred keeps old quarrels alive, but love draws a veil over every insult and finds a way to make sin (missing the mark) disappear. Words of wisdom flow from the one with true discernment. But to the heartless words of wisdom become like rods beating their backside.
The last part of this proverb really hits home to me today. You may have great words of wisdom and great insight on what is going on in our culture right now, but if you have no wisdom, no love for your opposition it is like rods beating their backside. They cannot digest what you are saying.
This week God woke me up in the middle of the night with the scripture Ez. 37:11-12, Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel, (God prevails). They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of God prevails.’
Hope is not lost, Our world hasn’t gone to hell in a handbasket. Prayer does really work! Don’t give up! Don’t stop loving!
DON’T GIVE UP ON LOVE!