Wednesday, August 29, 2012

a seal named wayne

constantly, i am reminded of my call to love first God and then to love second those around me, everyone from my parents to homeless people in china. we are told that it is important to love God first because we cannot truly love others without God's love, agape love, within us. and this love that we show to others comes naturally to us believers, by His grace, so it should be easy, right? we think...who would reject a love like this? one that is not condemning, one that is selfless, one that is so unconditional? it would be illogical, we think, to reject something so pure and good as agape love! now, pause. what is good? according to the world: anything that makes you feel good- money, sex, drugs, power, fame- just as long as you have a genuine heart. it's no wonder why so many in the world ask the question, "why do good people die?" and completely miss the fact that that only happened once. that is, only when our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross did a good Person die. after reading 1 thessalonians today, i've been reminded of something precious and essential to evangelism. paul tells us that we as Christians are not to be people-pleasing people who speak with flattery, but to do good to all. but if we are told to do good to all, wouldn't that mean that we are to try to please everyone? no, this is not a contradiction, but a clarification. what paul clarifies is that we, as God's children, are to do good- what is good according to His word- to others and sometimes, if not most of the time, doing good to others, showing them agape love, sharing the gospel will not please them, but rather they may even retaliate with hatred.
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i've already accepted the fact that i can't change you nor can i save you.
not a day goes by that i do not think of you, because i love you so much.
but you've chosen to live a life of partying, drinking, and lawlessness.
you've chosen to hate my God and so i must say, you've chosen to hate me.
however, since that day, there has not been a single doubt in my mind.
no matter what you've chosen, i will choose to always love you. always.

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