devotional - day 6

1 john 3:18 Dear children, let’s not merely say we love each other, let us show the truth by our actions

In Rich Villodas’ book, Good and Beautiful and Kind, he tells the story of a God-fearing, church-going couple who in all intents and purposes are wonderful Christians. He then goes on to tell of how that couple, with their children, take their family to witness the lynching of a black man in their community. 

Needless to say, I didn’t see that twist coming and it hit me hard.

However, it is a great example of exactly what this verse is referring to. You cannot say you love God and His children and then - by your actions (which can ironically include inaction) - violate another one of God’s children. That would not be showing the truth of God’s love for everyone.

EVERYONE. Let me repeat. E V E R Y O N E. Even the most despicable human you can think of, God loves. He loves them because He made them. I like to think of it this way; if my child was hanging with the wrong crowd, making lame mistakes and in the process hardening their heart and having their self-worth plummet, I would so very much want them to find their way out of that situation. It would be heartbreaking to experience that. That is how God feels about all of his lost sheep. ALL OF THEM. 

I often think about that. How heartbreaking so many of us are to God and yet, He would welcome us home. We could run into his loving arms and be forgiven for all the crap we’ve done. There would be no judgment, just compassion and grace. That is how we are to love. Not just with words, but with the actions of forgiveness and grace and acceptance that we are all flawed humans and God made us all uniquely different for a reason. 

It’s not easy to love that way. The band The National have a great line in their aptly named song Graceless - “God loves everybody, don’t remind me.” So often we want to take that approach. But we mustn’t. I’d say 100% of despicable people are so very very wounded. Life has been unkind. How much more impactful would our words of love be if they were followed up by grace, compassion, mercy and kindness? Try it today. Who knows how God will use your actions for goodness.