Yesterday afternoon we were with new UK friends around the tv, bound together by green blood in our veins, our opinions on the referee's decisions and the collective holding of our breaths in the last four minutes.
With Siya's camera moment, the joy of the crowds (both inside and outside that stadium) was still so great, that I couldn’t quite hear what he said… He mentioned the Boks’ bus ride on the way to the big game and how it was so beautiful that the people of South Africa all came together for the greater good, even "homeless people".
Not the "oumens people" (old people), as I heard it…
Whether you are "homeless people" or "old people" today, there is a wonderful promise for you. That's if you believe that good Christian people truly exist on this earth.
Because for those people, the "Christian people", it is written that they should not owe anyone anything, except to love them.
"Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbour has fulfilled the
[essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman].”
Romans 13:8 AMP
This morning, I realized for the first time that this actually means that I should love people so completely that when I ask them, "what else do I owe you?", they should be able to say, in all honesty, "nothing."
It is a daily battle.
Yesterday I saw a meme of Jesus, standing between The Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Flash in their brightly coloured clothes, muscles bulging, as they try to pick up a large wooden cross, one on each end.
Try.
Because all Jesus says to them is, "It's heavy, hey?"
Sometimes it feels very heavy to love others so much.
It feels like you just can't do it.
You may be so strong in other areas and even in spiritual gifts, the other fruits of the Spirit may all shine plump and healthy in your foyer where everyone can see it upon entering, but love - love for EVERYONE - is the one thing that struggles to grow.
Because people's attitudes and ways and talk and ways of thinking eat holes in your perfect idea of who is worthy of being loved.
And your love remains small.
Fortunately, we have this promise:
"Furthermore, I also pray that you will notice that the power of God that works in us
stronger than anything else. We have seen how great that power really is
when God raised Jesus from the dead and for Him
given the most important place in heaven.
That same power also works in us as Christians."
Ephesians 1:19 The Message
That same power answers every cry of "more love, please"…
May the "homeless people" and the "old people" and
the people whose attitudes and ways and talk are so different from my own,
be thrown upside down by the
unexpected
extent of Christ's love
that bubbles out of me
fuelled by the passion and
determination
of the Spirit
which wants to cover
“all people”
with His love!
Your inspiration for the week: Love's got a way
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