Friends
Happy New Year! 2020 is upon us. The coming of a new year offers the opportunity to reflect and respond. Here’s what I’m pondering as we start another year together.
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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35 -NIV
Let’s lean into love,
Let it lead us,
May it comfort,
Guide and keep us.
Let us be thankful,
Learn to play fair,
Respecting our differences,
Showing we care.
Love one another,
This is our command,
Traveling life together,
Walking hand in hand.
As we begin this new year, I am thinking about love, that we need more of it, how we need to lean into it. If love was our guide through life, our moral compass, how would it change things?
Would there be less bickering and blaming, less criticizing and complaining? Would fairness and respect win over avarice and animosity? Would the hungry be fed, the hurting be comforted, the lost be found? Would we serve others instead of ourselves?
When Jesus looked at us, He saw a world that could be. He saw a world where love could triumph over hate, where justice could right the wrongs. He looked into the eyes of His flawed and frail disciples, and He had hope. He had hope for this world, and we should too.
That hope begins in love. Love has the power to change us, and to change the world we inhabit.
So let us resolve to love, to love one another.Let us lean into Jesus, who is Perfect Love, letting Him guide our thoughts, attitudes and actions. May we approach each obstacle and opportunity with the question, “What would Jesus do?”
As we travel into 2020, may we show the world a new face, a new way to live. It starts with me. It begins with you. Let them know we are Christians by our love.
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“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:40 – NIV
PRAYER
O God of Love, O Prince of Peace, bless us in the coming year. Let our hearts be filled with love. Let love enlighten our attitudes and guide our actions. Let us care about and care for one another. Let them know we are Christians by our love.
In the Loving Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
New Year’s Blessings,
Anita
-APS 1/6/2020
Faith Beyond Sight 