Scripture Focus: 1 John 4:20-21
In one of my church connection groups, we recently read a book called “Practicing The Presence Of People” authored by Mike Mason. The book challenged and stretched the borders of my understanding in what it means to be “real” with God and others. This reading impacted me in such a “God way”, I felt compelled with a passion to share with the beloved family of God. The theme song that was being played out in each chapter of the book and my heart was “we’re always seeking God’s Face and Presence, but avoiding the sincere presence of those made in His image”. In essence, we have a lot to say in prayer to God whom we cannot see physically, but little to say to those we can see. I had to stop and reflect in the mirror if this was true in my life and the humbled answer was yes. As a matter of fact, there were others in the connection group who came to the same conclusion and “conviction of truth”.
The Holy Spirit revealed that relationships, even the bad ones matters to Christ and they will speak loudly and clearly in telling you the truth about yourself if we only would listen instead of being selective about what we want to hear or engage in conversation with. When God’s truth confronts one, religiosity will try to rationale under spirituality. I will be the first to admit that living with this heart and mindset requires a type of unconditional love beyond our ability to stir up on our own. This type of love can only come from God, His agape love. In our independent western culture, I’m sure you’ve heard others say that they do not need people or perhaps you have made this statement. There are many good reasons of past or present hurts that have hardened the heart from loving others. The truth according to God is if we do not need others, we do not love and if we don’t love, how can we say we love God? “Whoever loves God must love his brother”. There’s a crossroad where God meets us to have a face to face conversation and if we stop and listen carefully we will hear Him say as a loving Father,
“You want to hear My voice, but you do not listen to the voices of My people. You want to see My face, but you will not look into the eyes of My people. You say you want to know Me, but you do not want to know My people. You want to be healed, and you want to lay your hands on others for healing in My name, and yet you will not hold your sister or brother in a genuine embrace.” (Practicing The Presence of People, chapter 7, page 37).
All people as God’s creation are made in His image, but not in His likeness. We can only be in His likeness through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. We who are in Christ should desire to follow His commandment to love others genuinely. Christ knew this was impossible to do in our own intellect and heart, which is why He renews our mind and transforms our hearts by filling it with God’s agape love by the power of the Holy Spirit in being able to obey Christ’s commands. We are to seek the best for others in truth and love. This is sacrificial love not based on a feeling or emotional connection, but an intentional surrendering act of our will to put God’s will first for others.
Prayer and Reflection: Almighty God, Father in Heaven, I willfully surrender all to You that my heart and eyes will receive and see Your people how You see them. I confess that it’s been challenging to love unconditionally, but Lord I want to love as You have told me to do. I willingly increase the capacity for Your good work to continue in me, not in my strength but in the power of Your strength with joy. In the name of Jesus, I pray.