Love

If somebody told me that I had to describe Jesus in one word, it would be love. While I was taking pictures a few minutes ago I just happened to turn my camera towards my guitar resting against my desk and the music I had sitting there. The main way for me to spend time with God is through music. I'm not the greatest by any means, but it's something that allows me to stop using words and use my heart. I don't have to stop and think about what I want to say or how I'm going to say it-what I can't communicate with my tongue is definitely communicated with my heart. I thank the Lord for this gift He's given me to communicate with Him and also to use it to share the message of His love with others.

That leads me to my next point about love: we're all commanded to do it. "What you do for the least of these, you do for me." It is something that is DEFINITELY easier said than done-but is it really? When I think of people who are guilty of this, I'm the first and I'm miles ahead of others when it comes to being guilty of not having enough love for my brothers and sisters; and this isn't just putting on that fake nice, "I'm doing this because I have to" attitude. What is the point if our heart isn't in it? I know of a lot of people who are walking with Christ, but given how they treat others, you'd NEVER know it. I'm just as guilty of this sometimes, but when I see entire groups of people doing this...it hurts. The simple fact is...

We Need Each Other.

When there is dissent among ourselves as a body, how can we show love to others? We can't. God has really put this four letter word on my heart lately and it's something that I used to cringe at like I would other certain four letter words (namely...diet. FIRST THREE LETTERS SPELL DIE!). Yes, we're all human, and therefore that curviture of the soul that leads to sin is in all of us, but if we're happily proclaiming what Christ's love for us did, why can't we follow His example in our walk and show some REAL love? "These three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." We have faith in Christ's work on the cross for forgiveness; we have hope of eternal life with Him in a city where streets are paved with gold; but the greatest of the three is love. WHY CAN'T WE FIGURE THAT ONE OUT? We're too busy trying to be that perfect church member who goes to all the youth groups, rallies, church services, and trying to look like the perfect person to realize how much disdain we have for anybody who isn't like us.

But really though, are they different? I think not. "Oh, they sleep around." So? Washed clean by the blood. "Oh, they got a tattoo." Who the frig cares? This is a temporary vessel; so what if it's decorated? "Oh, they don't go to my church. Their church isn't cool." Last I checked we were all one body, so just because you're a Catholic or a Wesleyan or a Baptist or a Methodist or Espiscopalian doesn't make you any more saved in God's eyes. We're all sinners who have fallen short, and we're all redeemed by the blood that Jesus shed on the cross out of love for us all. I think it's high time we got over judging others and realize that mercy trumped judgement centuries ago. God's put this on my heart, and the time has come for me to do my part in showing real, true love to everybody regardless of who they are, what church they do or don't attend, what they believe, or what they don't believe in. If they see Jesus in me through my actions of love, that's great. How about you all?