Love is a language that breaks every single barrier. It is expressed in the simplest acts: an open door, a welcoming smile, a shared meal, a listening ear, a sympathetic tear, a gentle prayer.
God is love. God is a person that breaks every single barrier. He is expressed in the simplest of acts: an open door, a welcoming smile, a shared meal, a listening ear, a sympathetic tear, a gentle prayer.
They welcomed me in. We sat on the tile floor of their small, yet cozy one-room apartment. The plates were set before us. My friend scooped the rice into our bowls.
We lifted our voices in thanks to God, Jesus the Christ, our Savior, our brother, our provider, our friend. The food smelled delicious. They showed me how to eat like Khmer. I fumbled over Khmer words. They helped me practice. We laughed.
Then he began to tell me in English his story of Love and of God. . .
I listened as he spoke.
14 years old when Pol Pot terrorized Cambodia. The horrific details of his past sobered my heart. He hated Cambodia. Terror. Poverty. No life. Nothing good. His sisters fled to the Thai border in the late 80’s/ early 90’s. Missionaries from all over the world came to help these Cambodian refugees. They taught his sisters the Word of God and in a refuge camp his sisters found Jesus. After the fall of the communist regime in 1993 his sisters returned to their home. They told him about Jesus. He didn’t believe it. After all he had seen how could he believe? Again and again, his sisters shared the stories of the life of Christ, the gospel, and God began to change his heart.
“Before I was a Christian, I hated Cambodia! So much poverty and terror. Nothing good in life. But now, God has given me a new heart and new eyes. Now I love Cambodia and I love the people. I want to see them believe in Jesus, the one true God. The God of love and hope.”
Love is a powerful force. It compels people to forget themselves, to cross oceans, to lift the hands of the weak, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, encourage the hopeless, protect the vulnerable, speak good news to the poor in spirit.
Love is a powerful force. It breaks downs walls, crosses all barriers, is multilingual, discriminates against no one, it disarms, it heals all wounds, it melts the heart of stone, it draws even the most resistant one of us into its arms.
Love is a powerful force. It binds together the hearts of all people. No matter our history, color, language, culture, country, or status. Love brings us together as one; one body, and one family.
God is Love.
