There is a quote that goes something like “Christians don’t
tell lies, they sing them.” and the first time I heard this quote I knew it was
true, for everyone except me (of course) because I was conscience of it. There is an
acapella song which lyrics read “Love one another for love is of God, he who
loves is born of God and knows God.” This some comes from the verses in 1 John.
I think this modern day culture has watered the word love
down so much that sometimes we don’t even realize what we are saying. You love
this, you love that, you love your mom, and you love coffee, but who or what you
REALLY love. The bible says whatever dwells in our heart is where our treasure
is built up. Are we really loving earthly things, or earthly people MORE than
we love our Heavenly Father? Man, I woke up so convicted from this. I have so
focused on showing love to special people in my life, my mom, grandmother, dad,
brother, boyfriend, best friend. I want to love them correctly. The bible
teaches us to love others, but we as optimistic modern Christians seem to
glance over the “Those who do not love are not born of God”, parts of the
Bible.
Christians spend their lives trying to be more like Jesus,
we do “Christiany” things like church and community groups and retreats, we
walk the walk and even talk the talk, but how is your heart? I went on a
mission trip over spring break and there was a girl who was clearly the
spiritual warrior of the group, but instead of asking me how was I like some
many others she would take the time to stop, look at me, and ask me how is your
heart?. The first few times this happened I was like oh yeah I’m good, but then
I began to really dig into answering the question if not out loud, but
internally KNOWING where my heart was.
Forgiveness is hard, really hard, and you can think you have
forgiven someone for something to happen and you start harboring bad feelings
again. My father shared with me a concept that I had never really thought about
and I have to say it hit home pretty hard. If we believe that everyone is apart
of God’s plan, if we truly believe that everyone can have a personal relationship
with God and given the same opportunities in the Kingdom of Heaven. If we
believe they are children of God, HOW can we “hate” them? And I know what you
are thinking, “but Jordan I never said I hated them?” Oh but you did. See the
Bible says that if anyone says “I love God” but hates his brother, he is a
liar. The bible calls us liars! Man that’s such a conviction!!
There is peace, there is love, there is reconciliation, and
there is power ALL in the name of Jesus. We are FORGIVEN for our sins (even the
hate in our heart) by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are washed as white as snow
in the Eye of God if you have accepted Jesus as Lord over your life and walk in
His light. I encourage those (including me) who need to have a conversation of
repentance to do that soon, like now! There is no time like the present as
cheesy as that is. Don’t harbor the hatred in your heart over high school
bullies, over a broken heart, over friends doing wrong. They are children of
God too, try praying instead of dwelling in darkness. Live in the Light and the
Mercy and the FORGIVENESS of God!
-simply Jordan
