When I think about the United church, I get this amazing feeling, like we’re seeing a piece of heaven right here on Earth. It’s like what it says in the Bible in Revelation 7:9-10 – this huge crowd of people from everywhere, all standing together before God and Jesus. It’s pretty incredible to imagine!
And you know, when Jesus was teaching his friends how to talk to God, he started with the words, “Our Father, who art in heaven!” (Matthew 6:9). It’s like he was saying, “Pappa God, you’re up there in heaven, watching over us all.”
Thinking about these verses reminds me that the United church is part of something big – something that reaches across countries, languages, and cultures. It’s like we’re all part of this huge family, with God as our Father, no matter where we come from.
As followers of Jesus, we believe that heaven is where we truly belong. But while we’re here on Earth, what we do really matters. God cares about every little thing we say and do – even the stuff we might think is unimportant. In fact, the Bible tells us in Matthew 12:36 that we’ll have to answer for every careless word we speak.
And you know what’s even more important? How we treat other people. Jesus didn’t just talk about loving God – he also showed us how to love each other. So, when we stand before God one day, we won’t just answer for our words, but also for how we’ve treated others. That’s a big responsibility, but it’s also a big opportunity to show God’s love to everyone around us.
Let’s dive deeper into the life of Jesus. He came down from heaven to earth with a big mission: to bring heaven’s love and goodness right here. When we read the stories about Jesus in the Bible, we see how he lived and loved, and there’s so much we can learn from him.
Jesus had a special place in his heart for people who were often overlooked or looked down upon by society. He hung out with those who were struggling, sick, and even those who others thought weren’t worth much. Sometimes, even his own people didn’t want anything to do with them. But Jesus? He went right to them. He talked with them, healed them, and showed them love in a way that no one else did. It was like he was showing everyone around him what it really means to bring heaven’s goodness to Earth.
Jesus lived in a way that was different from what everyone expected. He went against the norms of society because he knew that true love and kindness are for everyone, especially those who need it the most. And you know what? We can follow his example too, by reaching out to those who might feel left out or lonely, and showing them the same love that Jesus showed.
Jesus showed his followers what it really means to love God and love others. Mahatma Gandhi once said something pretty interesting. He said, “I like your Christ, but I do not like Christians.” That’s something to think about, isn’t it? I’ve met a lot of people who call themselves Christians, but only a few really act like Jesus.
So, I took a good look at myself and asked, “Do I really show Jesus’ love in everything I do?” Honestly, I haven’t always done that. But I’m thankful that God is working in my heart, helping me grow to be more like Jesus every day.
Our enemy isn’t scared of how big a church is. What shakes things up is when every single one of us in the church follows Jesus’ number one rule – to love God with all we’ve got and to love others just as much as we love ourselves. Imagine if every single person in the church lived and loved like Jesus did – what a fantastic world it would be!
Jesus summed it up perfectly when he said, “Love God with everything you have, and love others just like you love yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). It’s simple, but it’s super important.
When we come together to worship as Christians, it’s because we love God. But we’ve got to remember what the Bible says – if we say we love God but we don’t love the people around us, then we’re missing the point. So, let’s all take a moment to think about how we treat others, especially our friends in the faith.
The Bible puts it like this: “If you say you love God but you hate your brother or sister, you’re lying. If you can’t love someone you can see, how can you love God, whom you can’t see?” (1 John 4:20).
My prayer is that everything I say and do brings glory to Jesus and reflects His love. That’s what being a real Christian is all about. Let’s show Jesus’ love in everything we do!
| Consider this: In a fractured world, loving others can feel challenging, yet following God requires intentional effort and discipline. Here are three to-dos from this week’s blog to help us grow in love: Reflect on Christ’s Love: Take time to reflect on how Jesus demonstrated love during his time on Earth and consider ways to emulate his compassion and kindness in your daily life. Embrace Unity: Recognize the beauty and strength in diversity within your church community, and actively work towards building unity and inclusivity among members, regardless of differences. Live out Your Faith: Move beyond lip service and commit to living out your Christian beliefs authentically. Strive to love God wholeheartedly and extend that love to others through tangible acts of kindness and compassion. |