2:198 – Back To Basics

#faithbites #faithjourney basics

This afternoon I asitting on a bench, enjoying the weather, waiting for my next meeting to start. I’m thinking about all the noise in the world: politics, stress, famine, work, kids, etc.

We have so many things to think about and it gets away from what matters. Our faith in God and loving that faith here on Earth.

It’s not about politics, it’s not about religion, it’s not about worth. In a nutshell, it’s about lovin God and loving each other.

To often we get pulled away from these two tasks by temptation and sin.

Let’s get back to basics and see all people as people with hopes and dreams and people to be loved. We can disagree with their actions, even their believes, but let’s learn to love each other again.

Scripture

• A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. – John 13:34
• We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. – 1 John 4:19-21
• Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses – Proverbs 10:12

Reflection

Our verses for tonight don’t need much interpretation. In a nutshell if we love Jesus, we should love our fellow man. That’s it. It doesn’t say only if they agree with us or believe what we do. We love them like we love Jesus.

To quote an old song “Love will keep us together”.

The devil wants us to strike out at one another. But he cannot conquer love.

Sitting on that bench, enjoying the weather, reminded me of how simple life can be. If we take a moment to reflect on love and loving God. Then we can get to the heart of the matter and build relationships and not walls between us.

Charge

Take a deep breath. If you see or read something you don’t agree with, do you respond in love? When you say it, how could the other person see it? Think about how you would feel if someone responded to you that way. Be in commune and peace even in disagrement.

Prayer

Lord, help us to see past the hate. Let us love one another as you loved us first. Help us to envision you when we are talking to each other. Remind us that your love conquers all. That while we may disagree and debate, we don’t have to be disagreeable. Help us push aside the world and get back to basics. Loving you and loving each other without reservation. On your name, Amen.