Monday afternoon mine and another team went to monk chats at a nearby temple. Here, you can sit with monks and talk to them about themselves and their religion. After some time of talking to the monk, Por, eventually our faith came into the conversation. We asked and answered questions, discussed similarities and differences between our religions, and sought understanding between each other.
The most powerful thing I took away from this time was how we ended. Even after grey areas, confusing answers, and disagreements, we ended on the topic of Love. This was a concept that was familiar to Por. After he said that he has never thought of his purpose before, I shared that my purpose was to walk in love and that by doing so, I would show the love and glory of God. Only when I shared that love was kindness and compassion and patience and grace did he begin to understand. He related because he too wanted to show love to people. But he recognized that the difference between loving in our religion was that a christian’s love was to be a reflection of the love of God. That glory was not given to self, but to our Maker.
After being overwhelmed by the specifics of the Bible, “chrisitanese”, and the true meaning of what it means to be a christian, I think that ending our conversation on love revealed a certain truth.
We learn in John that our greatest command is to love. We read that it is the way we love that others will see that we follow Jesus. To me, love is one of the most mind-blowing, overwhelming, undeserving, and reoccurring gifts that the Lord gives us ever so freely.
I believe that THIS is the way to point others to Christ.
BY LOVE we can make disciples, not by details, by religion, or by “christianese”.
BY LOVE we can reflect the love that God has for this world.
BY LOVE we can (in a tiny way) give the love that Jesus showed on the cross.
BY LOVE we can distinguish ourselves in a broken world and be the light of the world that we are called to be in Matthew 5.
BY LOVE we can point a broken world to the greatest healer.
BY LOVE we can show people fullness of life.
BY LOVE we can point friends, sisters, brothers, strangers, fathers, employers, mothers, sons, and daughters to experience the perfect love, grace, forgiveness, fulfillment, joy, rest, purpose, and freedom of the King of Kings.
This is why I’m on the world race.
To show the love and light of Jesus.
It’s too good not to.
To HIM to be the glory forever and ever, amen.
