March 8 LET LOVE BE LOUDER THAN YOUR OPINIONS.

Affirmation: I am loved and cherished.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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Ponder, Personalize: Consider the second verse:

“…Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭‭6. Personalize this verse/sentence. Ask God to remember His great mercy and love. What comes to mind when you ponder and talk to God about His great mercy and love?

“Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.“ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭5‬-‭6

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Reading for Today

Walk in Grace. Live in Love. by Bob Goff

March 8

LET LOVE BE LOUDER THAN YOUR OPINIONS.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner." 

LUKE 19:7 

I've made a habit of reaching out to people when they've stepped into some sort of firestorm on the internet. Maybe they caused it, or maybe people came after them for something they said. However it starts, it's rough to get lambasted by people online regardless of why it happened. I'll see a pastor say something controversial and instead of adding to all the noise already surrounding the comment, I'll send them a cake pop with no return address. It doesn't matter whether I agree with the person or not. I figure they're having a rough time and cake pops make tough days a little more tolerable. 

I used to be concerned about being right, but now I just want to be more loving. We'll always disagree with some people, but we'll know we're growing when we're more concerned about the other person than the big disagreenient. You'll know you're making progress when your love for people overshadows your opinions about them. 

We have a tendency to huddle up with people who look like us and think like us. It makes sense. People who are like us validate our life choices and worldviews. Here's the problem: we miss out on the beautifully diverse ways people see the world when we only associate with "our people." Jesus' tribe was a mix of men, women, fisherman, scholars, and tax collectors. Good guys, bad guys, and undecided. They wouldn't have seen the world the same way, but they all knew love had the last word, and that was enough for them. 

Next time someone pushes your buttons, send them a cake pop instead of an angry message. They've probably got enough critics out there, and like most of us, they could probably use a little more love than lecture. Let love be louder than your opinions. 

What progress have you made lately in loving others?