3:259 – Stop Complicating Things!

#faithbites #faithjourney complicating

Setting

We often say life is hard. People are hard to get along with. There is too much to do. Things are just plain too complicated. Heck, we even make believing in God complicated. Then once in a while, God steps in to make you realize it shouldn’t be that complicated.

Today, I was driving to get groceries, and a song I hadn’t heard before came on the radio. Love God, Love People by Danny Gokey. How often do we think “I tell myself to keep this up That God wants more than just my love But I’ve been complicating things It’s just like me to overthink”.

We’ve got to just keep it simple: “Bring everything right back to ground zero ‘Cause it all comes down to this Love God and love people”

A person doesn’t believe what you do? Love them. Someone throws shade at you? Love Them. Someone disrespects our country? Love them. Remember, “Love is patient Love is kind Rescues hearts and changes lives Love is all we need to make things right”

It’s that simple. We need to stop complicating things. If we truly want to follow Christ, we start with Love and end Love. Let’s stop finding reasons to not love someone.

Scripture

• Matthew 22:37-39 – And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
• Luke 10:27 – And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Reflection

I’m not going to complicate this by adding many of my own words. God has done this for us. Love God, Love People. No matter how hard it is. Truly do unto others as you’d have done to you (Matthew 7:12).

We can be angry, we can debate, we can argue. But if we can stop and say, I’m approaching this in love first, we are missing the point.

Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him. In fact he said it would be quite hard. Let’s follow his commandment.

Challenge

Take five minutes today to think of a way to keep it simple. How can you show love? Maybe it’s direct. Maybe it’s not sharing that meme or that statement that is hurtful and not loving. Whatever it is, start building a habit of loving one another.

Prayer

Father God, your plans for us are simple. You have even given us very simple instructions how to live in your way. Forgive us for always complicating it. We make excuses, we find ways to not love. Forgive us for not being the children you want us to be. Help us to start with love and end with love. No matter the hurt, the pain, the anger, remind us that if we love first and last, we can conquer all sin. We love you, God, and thank you for everything you give us. In your name, Amen.