Before I get started on this blog. Just a warning, things might get personal. You might not like everything I have to say. But it’s been on my heart and I must share!
In your opinion what’s the worst thing people can do? Murder? Steal? Cheat? Sexual immortality? Prejudice? Drunkenness? Promiscuity? Abuse? When you read through that list does one or a couple of those make your blood boil? Maybe you’ve been on the other end or you’re just very passionate against any of those offenses? Maybe you’ve seen close friends or family fall into these?
Do you have a higher tolerance for one over another? It’s okay to get drunk and have a little fun, but if someone has had sex with multiple men you are NOT okay with that. You’re fine with some little white lies here and there, but if somebody cheats on their boyfriend they are labeled a cheater and there’s no going back for them. You celebrate two guys beginning a relationship together, but HATE that man who abused that girl.
Woah, did I just step on some toes? Honestly, as I write this I am convicted. Maybe you’re asking yourself, what do I believe? Or you’re thinking, “Kyndal, murder is by far the worst thing, nothing compares!” Yes it is a terrible thing, and I don’t wish any of these on anyone but we haven’t earned the right to choose what is good and what us evil.
If you’ve experienced any of these I am not trying to discount the pain and the suffering that might have come with it, and I am deeply sorry you had to walk through that. What I want to talk about is what we are supposed to do with all this…
For starters, we are NOT the ultimate judge and jury. God’s got that covered. Our role in this world is simply to love. Maybe that sounds too simple. Maybe you think there is more to that. But what does it mean “to love”..?
“LOVE the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, ‘LOVE your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40
Notice it doesn’t say love with your heart and soul and mind. It says love with ALL your heart and ALL your soul and ALL your mind. Also, another key word- AND. It doesn’t say love with all your heart OR all your mind OR all your strength. We don’t get to choose how we love. God is asking, no telling us to love with every part of our being.
Some of you might think you are a very loving person and you’ve got this covered. Most of us are reading this and realizing we’ve been holding back. Maybe you love some people well but others you leave for others to love them because you don’t want to. Maybe they are too difficult to love or they don’t give anything in return so they aren’t worth your love…
picture this…
you’re on a ship and it’s sinking. People are running around like crazy and panicking. You know where the lifeboats are but you don’t tell them. OR you only discretely tell a few but let the others fend for themselves. Meanwhile, you are safe in the lifeboat, but as you look back at the ship you realize there are so many people helpless on the boat that you didn’t help And there’s so much room left on the lifeboat.
Now, as you’re reading this most of you are not on a literal sinking ship. BUT we are in a broken world that is hopeless. AND we might not have a visual like a sinking ship but we do know that the end will come. And not knowing the exact day the end will come should not be seen as an opportunity to relax and be comfortable but to be even more intentional with spreading the good news! There is a lifeboat for us and that is salvation. It will one day take us all home to the safest place ever, heaven. Now why would we not want to tell everyone?! We should be shouting it from the rooftops!
As I read Paul’s letter in the Bible and the deep passion he had for others to follow His Savior, I am inspired! He was on fire for the Lord and proclaimed the gospel to as many people as he could. And he didn’t quietly share it and butter it up real nice so it would feel good to all the people.
He was bold! When the churches strayed away he was quick to call them out. That is not an easy job. But he didn’t care about being comfortable and getting all the praise from people. His ultimate goal was to get as many people into heaven as he could. And he was able to do all this because he loved God and loved others so deeply.
So how can you be like Paul?? Don’t sit back. Be proactive. If you know the love of Christ, share it. And sharing the gospel doesn’t have to look like shoving the word down their throats. It just starts with loving others. And when you truly love others you don’t watch them go down a path of destruction and keep your mouth closed. You say something, but you don’t leave. You stay with them. You walk with them. You hold their hand. You pray for them. You continue to speak life into them. You point them to Christ.
When you choose to love God and love others you will bring life. This is not the world we should be working for. Instead, strive for heaven. Love when it’s hard, love when it’s uncomfortable, love and don’t expect anything in return, love without end, love your enemies, just LOVE– you won’t regret it.
Love and miss y’all,
Kyn
