How many times have we left church wondering if we could do
more, if we were really serving God and Jesus, or if we were just comfortable? It is so easy to say, I haven’t hurt
anyone, I haven’t done anything bad, I sang and prayed with all my heart. Still, it feels empty, like there is more I
can do. Can I go on mission trips to
Africa, or work every week in homeless shelters? Can I knock on doors inviting others to
church or bible studies? Sure, I can do
those things. They are good things, but
not necessarily activities we can all participate in all stages of our lives.
The Bible
speaks of these kinds of grand activities, reminding us that without love they
are useless, pointless, just noisy gongs.
The most important aspect of any activity we take on has to be love. We are told to love God with all we have, and
to love our neighbor as ourselves. The
Parable of the Good Samaritan tells us who our neighbor is. Our neighbors are
those that are around us, on this planet with us, and especially those in need. The Good Samaritan may have had projects and
plans to help people in need, but what was important was that while he was
travelling he helped a person. He helped
the person he came upon, the person who was in need at that moment.
Whether we
plan and participate in the big activities or not, what is important is living
a life of love. When we walk daily in
love we will see people that need us, and we will have the heart to help
them. Perhaps all we will be called on
to do is give a smile or a pat on the back.
Maybe we will need to sit and listen as a friend or a co-worker pours
out her heart to us. Perhaps we will
have to put aside our growing list of chores to visit with another person.
How do we
show love? We treat others as we wish to
be treated. We go out of our way to
encourage, listen, to care and to serve.
We love.
But,
living a life focused on love, what good can that really do? When I watch the news I am easily overwhelmed
at the cruelty and hate that permeates the world. How could one person, living a life of love,
change the world? I don’t know, I really
don’t understand, but I know it has happened and can happen. Love and change are possible. I am not called to change the world, but to
change me. As I live a life of love I
shine a light of goodness out to those around me. Imagine 10, 100, or 1000 people choosing to
live a life of love. How do we change
the world? We love
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