Finding Peace and Unity And Love
Jesus walked in love. When asked the most important commandment, he said it was to “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – (Mat.22:37-40) Scripture tells us to love God, and love others. What is the ultimate goal? Love.
Scripture:
“Therefore I want men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” – 1 Timothy 2:8
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Observation/Application:
This verse certainly paints an amazing picture of our ultimate goal which is to love. When we walk in love, like Jesus did, we’ve gotten somewhere. But when we find ourselves outside of love, we are walking outside of God’s will. And everything else compounds from there. Soon we find ourselves out of peace, lacking joy, and full of unnecessary discomfort.
Some could certainly argue that this is oversimplifying the scripture, and I would wholeheartedly agree. The storehouse of God’s kingdom is enormous, more than we could ever imagine – it is truly limitless.
Nevertheless, I believe there is beauty and significance in simplicity. Keeping things simple allows us to focus on what is really important. And when we see people from different nationalities, backgrounds, etc., standing together, worshiping together, without anger or disputing, we know that we are focused on the right thing and that God is at work. Love unifies all. Love conquers all. “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – (1 Cor.13:7).
What’s the answer to ALL of our issues today? Love. This isn’t some hippie-child panacea. We all know that there is a time for discipline and rebuke, correction, etc. We are not to withhold the rod and staff. But we should be coming from the right place in our hearts, and doing it in love. What is the ultimate goal? Love.
#Love-Love-Love-Love-Love
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word this morning. Thank for giving us this visual of people of all different kinds standing and worshiping together with lifted hands, unified under one holy and everlasting God. Let anger and hatred, fear and worry, all things that are not of God disperse by the mention of His name, the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Today’s full reading: 2 Kings 4,5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2
Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:
- “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” – Psalm 147:5
- “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26
- “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” – 1 Corinthians 13:7
- “Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.” – Proverbs 13:24
- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” – 2 Timothy 3:16