Good morning…
In my quiet time of prayer I think about our Jewish friends who witnessed the stabbing of hatred in the safety of their rabbi’s home, the shock of Sunday morning worshippers fired upon by a gunman in the sacredness of their small sanctuary, and the complex grief of the family and friends of those misguided men now and forever labeled “killers.” Honestly, I do not know exactly what my silent prayers do. I only know that I believe my deep hope for loving unity will somehow make a difference.
“In this world you will have trouble,” Jesus’ words stroll in to sit beside me on our couch. “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b, NIV). “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32, NIV). When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30, NIV). “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3, NIV). God, do I truly believe that there will be a day when the world’s troubled chaos will culminate in loving unity as we are all lifted up, drawn toward the living Christ, welcomed home forever right where You are?
We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him (1 John 4:16, AMP). Our hurting world needs you and I to believe, deeply and consistently, in the healing love God has for all people. As we abide in love, we abide in God, and God continually abides in us, living, loving through our eyes, our smile, our voice.
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do” (Matthew 11:25-26, NIV). As we listen to God’s love for all people magnified through the eyes, smile, and voice of one talented blonde child, let’s ask ourselves, “Do I believe in this loving day of peaceful unity about which she sings? If so, how does God’s hidden wholeness completed by Christ reveal itself in the love I freely share today?”
…Sue…
