"This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us." I John 3:16
It’s nice to be included. You aren’t always. Universities exclude you if you aren’t smart enough. Businesses exclude you if you aren’t qualified enough, and sadly, some churches exclude you if you aren’t good enough.
But though they may exclude you, Christ includes you. When asked to describe the width of his love, he stretched one hand to the right and the other to the left and had them nailed in that position so you would know he died loving you.
But isn’t there a limit? Surely there has to be an end to this love. You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But David the adulterer never found it. Paul the murderer never found it. Peter the liar never found it. When it came to life, they hit bottom. But when it came to God’s love, they never did.
Reflection:
Have you ever felt like no one in the world understands you? No one sees who you are? Or that you're alone in the world?
If you've ever experienced moving to a new city, a new job or a new school where you know absolutely no body, then I'm sure you've been there. Everyone has their own 'groups', they know the ins and outs of daily life, where ever you are going into (job, city, school, etc.). It's hard to get to know people sometimes because you don't want to share too much, you don't want to share too little, and you definitely don't want to say the 'wrong' things and possibly upset someone.
Acceptance. It's that what we are looking for? Trying to make sure we fit in, and making sure that people like us. No matter what, we are accepted in God's love. We are not expected to be perfect. And we all know, no matter how perfect you may try to be, we all have our faults.
No matter how many times we meet new people, we move to new places or change jobs every time we are trying to 'fit in' and just be accepted. Sometimes its welcoming and other times you feel as though people might 'judge' you because of your life. You might be divorced, never married, single with kids, widowed, too young, too old, too bold, too quite, too social, and so on.
God does not label us, so why should be label others. God has said, it is not our place to judge others. We should be welcoming to others at work, at school, any place you meet people, especially in the church. We as a church need to love others, as God loves us. As God accepts us, and not exclude others because of differences, no matter how large or small. We are ONE church, we are all loved by ONE God, the same God.
Reach out to someone today, in this coming week and days or weeks ahead. Get to know someone you may not know, or you may not know that well. We should unite as a church to love all of God's children, so others who feel like they are 'alone in this world' don't feel alone, because all they want to be is accepted, and know that they are NEVER alone.
~Courtney S-B~
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