Passing on God's love
In today's digital world, social media is an integral part of our everyday lives. Many people are familiar with the scenario: A controversial article or a provocative video is shared in a WhatsApp group. Immediately, members begin to express their opinions, often in a sharp and hurtful tone. The discussion quickly escalates, personal attacks are thrown around. Instead of having a constructive dialogue, the division only deepens. There is no justification for hurting someone.
At such moments I wonder how this behavior can help anyone. I recognize that these people are also burdened with various injuries. As Christians we should be filled with the spirit of God's love. We all need the saving grace of God: "Therefore, putting away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good" (1. Petrus 2,1-3).
Peter reminds Christ's followers that they have been saved by God's grace and are to be holy as God is holy: "As obedient children, do not give in to the passions you once indulged in in your ignorance; but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct" (1. Petrus 1,14-15).
They were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, not by their own efforts. Only by God's grace is it possible for us to put our faith and hope in Jesus. Through Christ's saving love, we should love one another from the bottom of our hearts, just as God loves us. Because we have been so loved, we should put away everything that stands in the way of that love.
Although the people of Jerusalem would soon kill the Son of God, Jesus mourned their ways and wept over them: "And said, 'If only you had known this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes'" (Luke 19,41-42).
Jesus wept because they did not recognize the Son of God in their midst. Through ignorance they rejected their own salvation. Instead of speaking condemning words about people, we should weep over their lack of understanding and pray that their hearts and minds will be opened to the truth by the Spirit of God. We are not to be a source of further division, but a healing balm that brings restoration.
There is a danger of getting lost in the idea of being chosen by God, but we must not forget that this happened for a reason: «But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light» (1. Petrus 2,9).
Because we have received mercy, we are also to be bearers of that mercy. We have a great responsibility to represent God to his honor and glory, to proclaim the truth, to love God and our fellow human beings. I do not possess this by nature and need the work of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of God. Praise be to our Lord and King that he has given us his forgiveness, that we are saved through his sacrifice and do not have to experience his condemnation.
My heart aches at the harm done to others in the name of justice. There is only One who is just and good - our loving and merciful God.
by Anne Gillam
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