Ever Praise Music

and the Joyful Harts Music Library​

Spiritual Food for Thought

Topic 18

"God is Love"

I am a Christian for a number of reasons.

Today, one of the reasons came to mind.

Christianity is a faith community of acceptance and inclusion. Jesus is the center of our faith, our hope, and our joy. By His example, we are taught to include those who have made mistakes, those who have made errors,

and those who our society has rejected.

Jesus said that He did not come to earth to condemn the world. He came that we might have life more abundantly.

There are so many other religions that still live under the law. The law of some religions can become a prescription

for the identification of failure and exclusion. Find those who have made an error and exclude them.

In ancient times the policy was identification and stoning.

Jesus taught us that love covers a multitude of faults. Love unites us. We serve a Savior who restores us

and does not condemn. Jesus taught the ministry of second chances. Jesus came to heal the sick.

He told us that those who were well did not need a doctor. He taught people who made mistakes how to heal

and repurpose their lives. He taught us not wallow in the misery of our failure.

I believe we should not be disheartened by the hard-heartedness of the judgmental crowds of the world.

Whether the detractors are on social media, in our community, or other venues of the world, we should not be afraid,

and do not be discouraged. Judgmental people sometimes concentrate on the legal aspects

of a religion or doctrine in order to identify those who they can look down upon.

Maybe they want to feel more worthy, or feel better about themselves, that is,

as better than those who have failed in some way. We can't know for sure.

The ministry of Jesus teaches that we can never fulfill the law. The law condemns. The law brings division.

The law brings unjustified death and unjustified war.   

The law brings suffering. The suffering is twofold. Those who are condemned suffer. The accusers suffer as well,

 just like the religious leaders of the past. The accusers sink deeper and deeper into double mindedness.

The accusers of Jesus were steeped in doublemindedness.

On the one hand, they preached about their spiritual purity.

On the other hand, and at the same time, they plotted murder to protect their lifestyle.

Choose love.

Love brings us together. Love brings new beginnings and second chances.

 Love brings hope, love brings joy, and love brings peace.

 
God is love.
(John 4:8)