Love Someone into Safety
Good Morning Friends,
This summer our family is going to South Korea to play handbells with other musicians from around the world. In preparation we have started practicing the music and walking the World Heritage sites on Jeju through Google Earth and learning some of the language and culture in advance. I can now say helpful phases like, “Nae hoebuhkeurapeuteuneun changuhro kadeuk cha isseyo,” which translates as, “my hovercraft has many ells.” Real communication is difficult. I may stick to English and a smile. Also in our research we have discovered that the Koreans are big on love and the culture and economy reflect the dance of courtship. They have even developed a new social media app for two called Between that is taking the place of Instagram and Facebook and Twitter. The app is limited to one account per email so one has to choose. Perhaps going back to a more personal communication is healthier in some ways to safely love but I think it must have its limits. Still salvation is about relationships not programs if one desires to Love Someone into Safety.
Scripture: keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Jude 1:21 (NIV)
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8 (NIV)
I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (NRSV)
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.
Psalm 5:11(NRSV)
Message: Perhaps before our very eyes we are seeing unfold a new evangelism where technology assists us in loving in a functional and purposeful relationship with another and with God. Love has always been an intimate, personal activity that seeks the welfare, happiness, and safety of another. So it is when one trusts another person. But to do so with an image or even a word is difficult. The reality of being reduced to a virtual experience is a problem. We need to abide in God’s Spirit to love in the way God intended. Here love prompts happiness not harm. Here love is loyal and consistent, candid and trustworthy in things personal and private. Here love is considerate and empathetic, patient and forgiving. But in this dance of loving our neighbor as ourselves things become a little tricky. Technology both helps and hurts. Things get lost in the translation. Humans are so human. We need much grace and I guess this technology gives people a place to practice safely this powerful thing of love. So, how do you practice love? How do you rank your love of God and others against the inventory above?
Pray we realize that love is more than a warm fuzzy feeling and so is God. Pray we realize that loving is work. Pray we increase our capacity to love realizing that God is love but that love is not God. Pray we not close ourselves off from others to stay safe. Pray we create more joy in our lives and others by prioritizing the things we love. Pray we realize that nothing can come between God and love when we put God first. Pray we realize that a happy heart makes the face cheerful. Pray we share and serve in the love of God, loving others into the safety of the divine presence.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 