“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
There’s a story about an old pastor who got up to speak one Sunday morning. He struggled to his feet as the offertory hymn finished and shuffled to the pulpit. He took off his glasses, looked over his congregation and said, “Love one another”. Then he turned around, shuffled back to his seat, and sat down.
The congregation waited for him to get back up, or for someone to sing a song, but nothing happened. You could read their thoughts on their faces: “Um, is that it?” “What are we supposed to do now?” “Has he finally lost it?” “Can we leave?” After several uncomfortable minutes, the pastor pushed himself out of his chair, walked to the microphone and repeated, “Love one another.” After sitting down, he looked over his people and was met with blank stares.
One more time, he got up and repeated himself before sitting back down. A few moments later, a woman stood up and walked over to another woman on the other side of the church. The two talked quietly for a moment, emotion obvious on both faces, and then they embraced with a sob.
As they parted, smiling and wiping their tears, a husband reached over and grabbed the hand of his wife who was sitting just a little farther away than normal. She looked away for a moment, then looked back with the exhausted look of one who is tired of fighting, ooched over, and laid her head on his shoulder.
All over the room, ex-friends reconnected, fathers spoke words of encouragements to their sons, daughters apologized to their mothers, people who used Macs talked with those who owned PCs; there was a love revival right in the middle of the church. All because the pastor shared the most basic, unfiltered truth of God: Love one another.
God is love and He calls us to be the same. Go out and love everyone the best you can – God will be glorified. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Someone must be bold and take the first step – will you be that person?
“Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God.” - CS Lewis
“Every Christian’s love for God is demonstrated by their love for their fellow man.” – Me
No comments:
Post a Comment