These are strange days. Do you feel it? Do you feel the uncertainty of this season, the cacophony of voices constantly clashing around us? Do you feel the opinions flying fast and furious, fear tightening its grip, discord having its day?
But deeper than all of that ~ beneath the surface of frenzy and friction ~ do you see the hearts longing to know that they are seen and safe, that the future is secure, that someone is for them? Do you see hearts looking for hope?
It can be hard to know the right thing to say or the right actions to take because, in a time when it seems like everyone is choosing sides over something, we are still called to be peacemakers. We are called to act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8) We are called to love as we have been loved.
I think this brings one conclusion ~ we need wisdom greater than our own. We need vision that sees further, deeper, and clearer than our own. We need a love that is wider, deeper, longer, and higher than our emotions or opinions. We need ears to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. (John 10)
Over these strange days, our God is still sovereign. His are still the words that are not returned void. His purposes still stand. (Isaiah 55:11) His heart is still set on kindness that brings repentance. He is still looking for every lost sheep… (Luke 15) His love is not wavering; His mercy has not run dry.
We know that His kingdom is unshakeable. We know that our Savior still meets every heart that longs for rescue and calls out to Him. We know that there is love that never fails. (1 Corinthians 13)
So you and I, we are hope-bearers and we must not be distracted or deterred from this calling.
When we aren’t sure how to proceed, what to say, how to act ~ this is when we press in to His presence. We open His Word and let our roots deepen in Truth that endures… we open our hearts in prayer and let Him change us until our lives flourish in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) We abide in Him and He abides in us ~ this Holy Spirit, comforter and teacher, lives within us. (John 15) And this is what my heart is yearning for, what I know I desperately need ~ to walk in step with Him, finding my source of help in His sustaining grace.
In and out of changing times, the victorious light and love of Jesus remain unshaken. Secure in His faithfulness, we are to take this life day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. We lean in and we listen for His voice… we wait on the Lord when we are unsure of our next step. We live interruptible lives, open to changing course and trusting that He will lead us when we ask Him to order our steps, to show us His way.
Maybe it won’t always look logical. Maybe it won’t always make sense. But this is faith ~ walking in the Spirit instead of our own reasoning.
May our part in these strange days be one of remarkable, bold grace. Let it be our part to share peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), compassion that reflects our Jesus who gave Himself to bear the pain and sorrow of all people. Let it be our part to hear the cries of the hurting, not turning away, but drawing close in the power of God that works in us to heal the sick, to feed the hungry, to proclaim liberty for the captives. (Is. 61) Let it be our part to act in fearless and unintimidated obedience when God leads us into action. Let it be our part to share unwavering truth in love. Let it be our part to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, to care for those who are forgotten and lonely. Let it be our part to intercede in prayer, knowing that God honors and responds to the prayer of His people. Let it be our part, above all, to never stop sharing the good news of a Savior who gave His life so that we can find forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
Let us be brave. Let us be strong in the power of His might.
We have been given the freedom that comes with redemption, the abundant joy of God’s presence, His strength in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) ~ so let it be that our lives are living epistles of His hope. In these strange days, may it be said of us that we have loved like we were first loved… whole-heartedly, holding nothing back, freely giving what has been given to us.
“…that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” ~ John 3:6-8
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.~ Galatians 5:25
Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ~ 2 Cor. 3:17
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
~ 2 Timothy 1:7
We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us.God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
We love Him because He first loved us. ~ 1 John 4:6-19
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