Dear Ones,
Hope you have a love-filled day. Al will be off to church early this morning for Men’s group and I plan to do food prep and have donuts waiting for him. We have Bible study today and we love our closeknit group.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Do we make the choice daily to live in God’s love, or do we get caught up in our hate culture? While reading John Eldredge’s book Experiencing Jesus. Really. he shares why hatred is pandemic and is poisoning our relationships with others. He quotes the Time magazine cover story “Why We’re Losing the Internet to the Culture of Hate.” I’m sure we have all seen examples on the news of anti-Semitic people harassing and attacking others just because they are Jewish.

Personally, I have never read such hateful remarks as have been posted on Facebook. It was especially true during Covid-19 when many dared not put their opinion online as they feared the hateful reaction. People were offended and took sides. Families and congregations were split, and some lost their jobs, etc.

I grew up in a day when we could freely express our opinions and listen to others respectfully, not hate that which was different from us. We learned from one another, and at times discovered we weren’t actually so far apart, for there were issues we agreed upon.

But when we know the Lord, we are to be people of love. I John 4:16 says, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” Hate has no place other than to hate evil. There will always be people that will offend or hurt us, but we don’t have to get into the blame game, which the enemy loves. Instead we are to forgive everything and forgive all. We can always call on the Lord to give us His love, to renounce hatred and to forgive. Others will know from our openness and love that we belong to Jesus.

Challenge for today: Close the door to hatred and offense and open the door of your heart to love and forgiveness.               Blessings and love, Judy