Spring is not supposed to be like this. It’s the season of bright possibility before the heat of summer sets in. By Mother’s Day we traditionally start planting. But this year spring came quite late. It’s not supposed to be like this, but it is.
It’s not supposed to be like this: afraid to leave home, looking suspiciously at strangers, friends, family, food and even packages as disease vectors. Living with an underlying thrum of fear. It’s not supposed to be like this, but it is.
It’s not supposed to be like this: life’s rules and rhythms changed without warning, everyone hunkered down, unable to do what we want to do, yet unwilling to do the things we could, or ought to, do. (Okay, that’s normal.) It shouldn’t be like that, but it is.
It’s not supposed to be like this: all people, ALL, are created in God’s image. “God so loved the world;” no exceptions, no one left out. Yet people are suffering, treated with contempt, killed. It shouldn’t be like this, but it is.
We who name Jesus Christ as “Lord” are not like this. We are called to a higher Standard:
Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:3-5 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
You see that? We are winners. Our faith give us the power to obey the Royal Law of Love. Toward everyone. Everyone! No exceptions.
One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” If you obey this law, you are doing right. But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law.
James 2:8-9 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
We obey the Law of Love. That’s how it should be. Because right now, with the hurting world watching, openly demonstrating God’s Love is more important than ever. Because that’s Who He is.
And because He is the answer everyone is looking for.