Whoever Lives in Love…

There’s an old story about a man who was shipwrecked on an island for 10 years. During that time he kept himself sane by creating an entire town, including a house, a grocery store, a movie theater (with only imaginary movies, of course!), and a church at each end of his Main Street. He did this all out of palm branches.

When he was finally rescued, he was asked why he made two churches. Pointing to the first one he said, “That’s where I went, even though I sat alone, to remind myself that I am part of a body of Christ that extends around the world. That church was my spiritual home, my bedrock, my hope, and my salvation.” Pointing to the other one, he said, “That’s the church I wouldn't be caught dead in!”

Sometimes we do that, don’t we? We divide the world up neatly—determining who’s in and who’s out.

In a way, our theological or even political differences can help us articulate what we do believe and what we stand for. However, they can be sinful when they lead us to deep division, animosity, or hate. Hate corrodes the soul. This type of division can also destroy a sense of neighborhood or community. We see the way it impacts even our nation and the larger world.

In John’s first letter he writes, “Whoever says, ‘I am in the light,’ while hating a brother or a sister, is still in the darkness.”

Later, John continues, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

Let us pray: Loving God, sometimes it is hard to love people who see the world differently than we do. Grant us your grace that we might show grace. Keep us from the hate that hardens, and instead help us to be witnesses to your love and mercy. We especially pray today for all those whose love leads them to even sacrifice for the sake of others. We particularly lift up the men and women who are in the military and their families. We pray for peace-keepers and aid workers, for diplomats and ambassadors of all sorts. Protect them and lead them, that even as they serve, they would know your grace and love. We ask in the name of the One who came not to be served, but to serve others. Amen.