Love is optional, right?

It’s sunday morning. The pastor is on stage, the lights go down, mics on. This is like a production in which the starring role is given to Gods word. I always thought that the main character of any production was given the most attention, listened to carefully, and to be honest, all else is ignored. It seems, however that Gods word, when presented on stage is ignored, not listened to–and frankly the audience is coming for the social networking of the church. Here I sit, amongst fellow christians, and while gossip, drama and chattering fill the tall ceilings, I think to myself “why can’t we simply just listen to Gods word?”
Of course, with any monologue attention will drift, but it seems that in today’s world that attention drifts and doesn’t come back; perhaps they are listening but the lack of audience participation, in this case, applying–wanes.

The focal of this is not just that we are not listening, and shame on us. We Christians (myself included) are forgetting the main attractions (God’s Word) main concept. Love. BLAH BLAH BLAH. yes, we know what Gods love does. Changes our heart, minds, souls. Okay–textbook. Anyone can say that “I love God” but Jesus himself says to people in Matthew 7:21 that you call the name Lord, but if you do not put His will into practice, then He will turn away from us. So, how do we put this thing “love” into practice?  All we have to do is mimic Jesus’ already good example. And not just mimic, but truly have the need to do this.

First: Obviously we know that Jesus died for us. That is an act of love, and no–im not saying go die for someone, but Jesus did this because he loved us! He loved us sinners. He loved the Romans that beat and scourged him. He loved the people who talked bad about him. He loved the religious people. (Religious meaning rule abiding-showy pharisees.) Jesus loved the sick, dying, outcast fool. When it comes to having love for people, we do not have the OPTION. We do not ge to decide who to love. And if you think you do, take into consideration who you are. We are no better than our enemies. We are all in sin.

Second: Jesus’ existence lets us know that God cares for us no matter what we do. He wanted us to be saved, to be with HIM. We are his creation! We are his children! We are the lineage of Noah, whom GOD CHOSE! God cares that much regardless of when we make Him look bad, of when we crack “that’s what she said” jokes, of when we are rude, mean, foul, dirty etc. He still cares and loves on us. When we go astray, he comes to find us! Jesus is the Shepard, friends. He cares. Now, if we are commanded to a higher standard; to be reflections of God, why do we get to choose who we show his love to? If someone does something to hurt us, that we think is mean, rude, unruly, hurtful, unjust etc how much more, through our anger, tears and turmoil should we show them love? Yes! This is HARD. But in LOVE we do not get the OPTION of who receives it. Jesus could have chosen to turn away from the cross, to laugh at us and skip out. Did he? No. So if we are called to be like Him, then why do we get the choice?

In Summary:
If Gods Word is the main attraction, and the entire concept is LOVE, and GOD has no choice but to love–then why should we, who are so far from holy take God’s love and turn it into a inny, minny, miney mo game? Just my thoughts. We could all use some refresher courses in what Gods love is and how do practice it.