This World Needs More Jesus
As I entered the familiar lobby of Desert Perinatalogy, my eyes were immediately drawn to the flat screen TV mounted against the far wall. Usually it blares annoyingly loud/overly perky daytime talk shows and I do everything in my power to tune it out. Today, however, my eyes were glued to the screen, displaying news of the school shooting in Connecticut, and I found myself tuning out everything else around me instead.
The more I watched, the more my heart flooded with words and my fingers itched for a keyboard from which I could express them. This is not the first time I've had such a strong impulse to write, and I can only trust it is from the Holy Spirit, reminding me of precious truth so often forgotten in times of turmoil. And so, I humbly pray I am able to step back and allow Him to speak through me...and I pray whoever reads this is blessed through the reception of His truth. I know I have nothing of worth to offer on my own, but it is only through Him that I might make even the tiniest of impact.
Despite the sudden influx of words on my heart, I still can't find the verbiage to accurately express my sorrow over the violence, trauma, and tragedies of this world; highlighted by the horrific events of this past week.
I, like many others, find myself wondering, "God, where were You? How could You let this happen?"
And then I remember 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."
Still, I question Him. What am I supposed to do with that verse, Lord? Somehow imply that You just weren't there? You took a day off? You removed Your hand from the situation? That's not exactly helping Your cause in a world filled with doubt...
And gently, He clarifies: this violence and chaos and brokenness is not of Him. Jesus came to redeem the world, not preserve it. Please hear my heart on this. In no way am I implying these shootings (or the thousands of other violent acts that occurred this week without media attention) were ordained by Him.
But this world is not our home. An unfortunate ramification of our free will means that Satan still has a say. A battle is being waged for the hearts and souls of our brothers and sisters, and shootings such as those that occurred this week in Clackamas and Connecticut serve as painful reminders that the father of lies is celebrating his victories (my stomach lurches just typing that). The devil may have won these battles, but Scripture reminds me that God will win the war.
I admit, these words probably do very little to comfort anyone in crisis. And I don't even think it is blasphemous for me to say that. Because Jesus didn't call us to simply speak words of attempted comfort and encouragement to one another. He actually commands us to LOVE. And love is not a noun. It can't be simplified to a person, place, or thing you can neatly describe and share with another through words alone.
When I say "the world needs more Jesus," what I really mean is the world needs us to step up and BE Jesus to one another.
We are called to be His hands and feet. Not selectively. Not just when it is convenient. And certainly not only when others are watching or we are somehow benefiting from the action. We don't just love other Christians. We don't just love those who are easy to love. We love because HE loved (1 John 4:19). And He loved everyone.
I know it's cliche, but LOVE is POWERFUL. When we love the way we were created to, we change lives:
Sins, hurt, brokenness, violence, tragedy, trauma. Love covers that.
I will never ever fully comprehend the evil of this world, which often serves to overshadow any sense of Light. But I beseech my God, who promises a peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), to be near all those affected by it. I pray they might find a place of peace, even in the midst of this appalling chaos. And I pray that my own heart, though it be discouraged at times, will never cease to be receptive to His truth, my soul will never feel impervious to His love, and my body will never tire of loving others the way He did: completely.
Today, I implore you to humble yourself and ask Him: how are You calling me to be Jesus to the world today?
All around me I hear people talking so much about how we need change. Questioning how we could have prevented such tragedies. Wringing their hands in fear that perhaps the end is near. And my response, time and time again, is this: The world needs more Jesus because the world needs more love, and love conquers all.
My deepest sympathies for all those affected by the trauma, brokenness, evil, and violence of this week. I am praying for you, fiercely, and my hope is that this heartbreak will be met by an absolute hurricane of love.
The more I watched, the more my heart flooded with words and my fingers itched for a keyboard from which I could express them. This is not the first time I've had such a strong impulse to write, and I can only trust it is from the Holy Spirit, reminding me of precious truth so often forgotten in times of turmoil. And so, I humbly pray I am able to step back and allow Him to speak through me...and I pray whoever reads this is blessed through the reception of His truth. I know I have nothing of worth to offer on my own, but it is only through Him that I might make even the tiniest of impact.
Despite the sudden influx of words on my heart, I still can't find the verbiage to accurately express my sorrow over the violence, trauma, and tragedies of this world; highlighted by the horrific events of this past week.
I, like many others, find myself wondering, "God, where were You? How could You let this happen?"
And then I remember 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."
Still, I question Him. What am I supposed to do with that verse, Lord? Somehow imply that You just weren't there? You took a day off? You removed Your hand from the situation? That's not exactly helping Your cause in a world filled with doubt...
And gently, He clarifies: this violence and chaos and brokenness is not of Him. Jesus came to redeem the world, not preserve it. Please hear my heart on this. In no way am I implying these shootings (or the thousands of other violent acts that occurred this week without media attention) were ordained by Him.
No, His will for us is love, not hate.
Healing, not hurting.
Truth, not lies.
Peace, not chaos.
But this world is not our home. An unfortunate ramification of our free will means that Satan still has a say. A battle is being waged for the hearts and souls of our brothers and sisters, and shootings such as those that occurred this week in Clackamas and Connecticut serve as painful reminders that the father of lies is celebrating his victories (my stomach lurches just typing that). The devil may have won these battles, but Scripture reminds me that God will win the war.
"I have told you these things so that in ME you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
I admit, these words probably do very little to comfort anyone in crisis. And I don't even think it is blasphemous for me to say that. Because Jesus didn't call us to simply speak words of attempted comfort and encouragement to one another. He actually commands us to LOVE. And love is not a noun. It can't be simplified to a person, place, or thing you can neatly describe and share with another through words alone.
Love is a verb of perpetual motion.
Love expresses itself through actions:
Love moves. Love touches. Love connects.
When I say "the world needs more Jesus," what I really mean is the world needs us to step up and BE Jesus to one another.
We are called to be His hands and feet. Not selectively. Not just when it is convenient. And certainly not only when others are watching or we are somehow benefiting from the action. We don't just love other Christians. We don't just love those who are easy to love. We love because HE loved (1 John 4:19). And He loved everyone.
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else..."
1 Thessalonians 3:12
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
Sins, hurt, brokenness, violence, tragedy, trauma. Love covers that.
I will never ever fully comprehend the evil of this world, which often serves to overshadow any sense of Light. But I beseech my God, who promises a peace which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), to be near all those affected by it. I pray they might find a place of peace, even in the midst of this appalling chaos. And I pray that my own heart, though it be discouraged at times, will never cease to be receptive to His truth, my soul will never feel impervious to His love, and my body will never tire of loving others the way He did: completely.
Today, I implore you to humble yourself and ask Him: how are You calling me to be Jesus to the world today?
All around me I hear people talking so much about how we need change. Questioning how we could have prevented such tragedies. Wringing their hands in fear that perhaps the end is near. And my response, time and time again, is this: The world needs more Jesus because the world needs more love, and love conquers all.
My deepest sympathies for all those affected by the trauma, brokenness, evil, and violence of this week. I am praying for you, fiercely, and my hope is that this heartbreak will be met by an absolute hurricane of love.
Comments
"Hurricane of love." I like that.
LOVE,
DAD