Our Story

“Now at last they were beginning chapter one of the great story no one on earth has ever read, which goes on forever in which every chapter is better than the one before.” C.S. Lewis- The Last Battle

There is a story yet to be written.

In Revelations 21 and 22 this future time is ushered in by a great wedding celebration and in this story there is no death or mourning crying or pain and forever we will be with our God, and we will be His children. But there is another story being written now. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.

Our story. Yours and mine…

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

Do we understand our story of our life is being written everyday and how little time we actually have? Are we living this present story with the greater story in mind? One way we can know is if we are doing the two things Jesus said were most important.

You shall —“love the Eternal One your God with everything you have: all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind”and “love your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

We can acknowledge this as important, that it is vital to our identity as a follower of Christ. But I believe we can miss the opportunity to love God in truth by failing to love the thing he loves most. People.

There is something about the poor, the disadvantaged those whose lives are in turmoil and pain through no fault of their own, those whose suffering difficulty is self-inflicted, the prodigals in this world that touches the heart of God. And one way we show our love is by honoring what is important to Him.

And when I was thirsty, you gave Me something to drink. I was alone as a stranger, and you welcomed Me into your homes and into your lives. I was naked, and you gave Me clothes to wear; I was sick, and you tended to My needs; I was in prison, and you comforted Me. Matthew 25:35-36

When they ask “when were you ever in need?” Jesus replies “whatever you did for the least of these, so you did to me”

Love your neighbor as yourself. Do this for the least of these….

Who is our neighbor? Who is the least of these? It has been said that it is those close around us. Those we know, those we don’t know. Those we sometimes deem as unimportant or not worthy of our attention and care. Strangers, friends and family. Sometimes we are willing to show compassion to those we don’t know and withhold it from those who are close to us. Especially when we have been hurt and disappointed. We attempt to help them only to find out they have lied to us or taken advantage of us. We do everything we can to help and nothing changes….

Family, friends, those in our neighborhood, in our church, strangers, the sick, addicted and poor. We are not willing to love the way we would want to be loved if we were in their place. Not willing to show the love of the Father through our actions and care.

Love can be expressed in many ways. Sometimes it is showing an act of kindness that is undeserved. Sometimes it is giving the help that is needed. Sometimes it is willingness to suffer loss for someones gain. Sometimes it is praying instead of doing, sometimes it is “no I can’t that is not best for you”, sometimes it is yes I will,  but love is never optional.

Will we take the opportunity to show this love, to love others as we love ourselves whoever they may be or wherever they may find us? Will we be willing show our love for the One who loved us first by loving what He loves most?

What will your story be?