" And They will know we are Christians by our Love"
Our little dog Nyla came from a rescue shelter in Parsons, KS. She was an abused puppy and not always shown the love that a puppy needs. She is very loving and playful. I was working out in the yard and I unknowingly dropped a work glove. When I reached for it I saw that it was gone. I looked around for the glove, then saw Nyla carrying it in her mouth. When I tried to get it from her she ran away from me, all the while watching me with one eye. She zigged and zagged in front of me and when I stopped she stopped. When I came for her again, she started running away from me again. I tried throwing a stick to make her go after it and drop the glove, but instead, she tried to pick up both the stick and the glove together . Later, I tried to sit on the bench in the yard and she jumped up beside me and then the "mauling" began. When she was finished romping and chewing on my gloved fingers she sat quietly with her head on my lap, letting me scratch her ears and pet her head. She closed her eyes and just basked in my love, and at times looked up at me and licked my hand.
Nyla just wants our love and we do love her, even her wild little puppy ways. God loves us, even though we have our own "wild little ways." God wants us to love each other just as he loves us. John 13: 34 states, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
God shows he loves us even though we have our "wild little ways " in Roman's 5: 8, "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgement.
Since we have been right in God's sight and he loves us we are to show this love to others. God says to "Love others as you love yourself. "
We love others by being thoughtful and kind. We think of others comfort and needs above our own. By being kind to others, it actually makes you feel better about yourself both physically and mentally. God has a good system going on here.
Old Satan tries to convince us to be selfish, and God teaches us to be selfless. In John 10: 10, Jesus says, "Satan comes only to steal, and kill and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life - life in its fullness.”
The Bible says "Love" will last forever. 1 Corinthians 13: 13 says, "There are three things that will endure - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.”
Nyla, in all her "wacky little ways," has my love. God loves us in all our "wacky little ways" and we are to love each other even though we all have "our wacky little ways. "
Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for loving us even though we are far from perfect. Help us to love each other with the love that Jesus showed us. May we learn from his example. In Christ's name we pray. Amen
God Bless