Saturday January 28, 2012
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
Yesterday it was windy here in central Florida. I don’t mean breezy, it was almost impossible for me to open my car door and get into my vehicle, it was hard for me to walk against the gale force to cross Orange Ave. There have been people like that in my life who literally bowled me over with their zealous love of God. They wanted to evangelize for God and did so with their whole strength. My reaction, I am sorry to admit was like my reaction to the gale winds… I closed up and held tight to my stuff and fought against their perceived assault…
In reading and study, I have married this command with the commandments that Jesus gave… Love God and Love neighbor as yourself. Great theologians, like St Thomas Aquinas have agreed that if the zeal for the Lord is combined with LOVE… Charity will draw more followers to Jesus than all the strong arm tactics in the world. People are drawn to those who exude love through their pores rather than spouting it through a loudspeaker.
If my external actions instead of being blustery are the simple tasks of a servant, I will model Christ and draw men and women to God. Love is patient, kind, humble and forgiving… Love is not about me but about thee! If I live my life, other centered I will be accomplish what God has put me on this earth to do!
Lord let my strength be to endure not to blow indiscriminately, breaking down rather than building up. Let me illustrate Your compassion so that people will know You by meeting me.
