As we all know and as we all have experienced at some point, the world can be a cruel place to live in sometimes.
Grief.
Hatred.
Revenge.
Injustice.
It can all can hit a little too hard at our emotions.
A common verse that most people have heard before is John 3:16– “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God came into this world as Jesus, preached the Gospel, and died on the cross as a sinner, but never sinned before in his life. John 3:17 continues on to say, “God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
God saved us from perishing. He didn’t come into this world to judge and criticize others. He came to show love. If we’re suppose to be more like Jesus, why do we judge the world more than loving the world?
Ephesians 5:1-2 states, “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
Some people live life thinking, “The world is so cruel. I don’t see any example of God in the world. There is very few.” Well…what if we made the effort to be the light of this world? Be that example of Christ. That’s why we were created. What if your one small act of kindness can change someone’s life? What if that small act of kindness can be the starting point of someone’s testimony? And what if they share their testimony with others and that uplifting testimony will give someone else motivation to walk with Christ? You never know how your love for others will impact someone down the line. How your small act of kindness can save a lost soul.
Now if we’re suppose to be more like Jesus, why do we see the majority of people judging instead of helping God save the world? We were created to love not judge. We were created to be that small spark of light that helps lead someone to Jesus. So what are some actions you can take to love others? Here are three applicable steps you can implement in your daily life:
1. Your Testimony
We go through trials and tribulations so we may increase our strength and endurance and faith in God. It leads us to sharing our testimony with others; telling them what God has done for us when it seems like we hit rock bottom.
2. Exhibit Love and Kindness
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 gives us the definition of love: “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.”
When we show love through our actions and forgiving others, we exhibit godly characteristics so others may experience God through us.
3. Obedience to God
Obeying God can be rough sometimes. Sometimes we don’t want to sacrifice our own desires for his commands. But how can we be so prideful and righteous? Jesus sacrificed his life for us, the least we can do is sacrifice our time and energy for Him.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”-Romans 12:1
“Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”- Deuteronomy 5:33
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”-James 1:22
As John 3:16 says, God came to give us eternal life so we can avoid perishing. I don’t know about you but perishing sounds horrible! We have to help lead lost souls to Jesus so they may avoid perishing and instead, be able to experience eternal life with God. We can help encourage others and lead lost souls to Jesus by showing lovingkindness, sharing our testimony, and obeying God.
A word of encouragement I found online: “Only God can turn mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, a victim into a victory.”
What is one thing you can do today to show love to a broken world?
xoxo,
Alexis T. Collins 