Ok, I’m preaching a little today, so if this isn’t your thing, come back tomorrow. This one just had to get air time. Every other Sunday, I attend Pub Church…a come as you are gathering in the back room of a local micro brewery. After ordering food and libations, we are led by a pastor in prayer. Then he presents a topic for discussion and opens to the room. This past Sunday we discussed Luke 14: 25-35 where Jesus tells his fellow dinner guests that if they do not hate their parents, their families, themselves…they can’t be disciples. This is a confusing parable, to say the least. Especially since one of God’s own commandments is to honor your parents. Since God doesn’t contradict himself, we are forced to look further into the message Jesus is trying to convey. Does He really want you to hate your parents? Of course not. He’s using hyperbole to get the guests’ attention and make a point. In order to follow Him…TRULY follow Him…you can’t put any love higher than the love you have for Him.
I have been re-reading Pastor Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life. He repeatedly drives home the point that you cannot serve two masters and your love for God must be first and foremost in your heart and mind. God wants you to be in an intimate relationship with Him.
Love.
Over and over, I’ve been reading about the transformational effects of love. We love our families. Our parents comprised our entire universe in our formative years. Our siblings and cousins were our first friends. And, is there anything more intense than falling in love…whether you’re a star struck teen or in your third trimester of life, falling and being in love is an intense experience. God wants us to love him with that same fervor.
Love.
It’s the bottom line. The lowest common denominator. Love has singlehandedly supported the music industry for centuries. Music is all about love, whether gaining or losing it. Art, theater, photography…even sports. It’s all about love. Love raises your vibration thus raising the vibration of those around you, of your community, village, country, world…the universe.
Love. It’s good for what ails you. It’s good for what ails the world. Practice loving…from the lowest to the highest.
❤️
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV