It's a Love Story

So often I hear stories of exclusion in the church for a variety of reasons. Sadly, I've experienced this as well. Other times it sounds like the church has lost the thread of its most important and most compelling message. It's not about exclusion or hate - despite what people say about faith stories. What gets repeated so much in the Bible is LOVE. Ultimately - it's a love story.

1 John 4:7-21 sums it up really well - take a moment and read this passage with care. Let it simmer with you. Use it as a quiet space this morning. Print it out and keep it near.

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because God first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And God has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Over and over again, our faith calls us loudly toward love. This is not random. This is not cherry-picked. This is repeated and repeated. This passage from I John is just one example of so, so many.

In this month of hearts and valentines, how will you make your love known in bigger and more meaningful ways? How will you take these faith teachings truly to heart? Far beyond your personal circle, the world is waiting for loving kindness.

God IS love. We reflect that light most genuinely when we are showing love to others and to ourselves. May you know it. May you share it. Wildly and abundantly.