Welcome to hopetoinspireyou.com’s 400th reflection! My heart is filled with gratitude to God for providing weekly inspiration for the last eight years. Thank you for being a part of this ministry through faithfully reading and your encouragement. Book #3, God’s Compassion Illuminated should be available before year end.
God is love! God and signs of His love are all around us. Our lives should also be reflections of His love that we share with one another.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. –1 John 4:16 (NIV)
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. –1 John 4:21 (NIV)
God, who existed from the beginning of time, is love. His love is lavished upon us daily because we have the privilege of being children of God. We have the responsibility to spread that love to all we encounter.
How many times do we miss God’s love that is right in front of us?
It was a question a friend pondered and shared while I was visiting. I was glad I finally followed through with going for a walk with this friend. We joked ahead of time that we probably wouldn’t get too far because of possible frequent stops to check out “hearts” I might find along the way. It was a beautiful fall day, so after our walk, we sat on her deck, which consisted of a huge array of plants, herbs, vegetables, and more. I was most impressed with the many unique crops that they were growing, many from seeds. As I looked at the vegetation life before me, I pointed out two heart shapes that stood out to me. This was one of the biggest!
Two weeks later, I shared this picture of a heart-shaped piece of ice cream cone that fell on my arm with my friend.
She took the opportunity to share the following with me. “I was touched when you were here and you told me there were two places in my garden that had hearts. Where, where could you be talking about? Here I was all summer looking to see if I saw any hearts and those leaves were growing right under my nose! My spirit was so taken by the fact that it was right there and I was blind to seeing it. I needed you there to point it out to me. Sometimes we have to just appreciate what is right before us and not think it will come with a lot of hoopla. Or is it that we need special people in our lives to show us the way?”
Let’s reflect on some of her thoughts…
How many times are we blind to seeing God’s love right in front of us…
…in the beggar who is on the street?
…in the person who lives a different lifestyle from us?
…in the catastrophic events in our lives?
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. –2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)
In this passage, Elisha the prophet knows of the strength of God and the hosts of heaven that were with them, rather than merely looking at what was visible before them. Elisha wanted the servant to be aware of this fact too. He prayed to God to open the servant’s eyes to see how God’s love was right there with them. The servant was originally blinded to seeing God’s love protecting and providing for them.
Lord, open our eyes to not be blinded to you and your love that surrounds us. Help us see you in everyone and in all the circumstances of our lives. Amen.
Don’t we sometimes need others to point out God’s love to us…
…when our vision is clouded by the weight of the world?
…when we are overwhelmed with worry and anxiety?
…in ways we might not have seen before?
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. –Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
The law of Christ is the law of love. By helping others see God’s love all around them, in themselves, and in all circumstances, we fulfill the law of Christ.
Lord, help us to point out God’s love to all we encounter. Let us reach out to those who need your touch and to see your presence in their lives. Amen.
How many times does God’s love come to us in the small ways rather than in the big hoopla?
In the…
…quiet moments of solitude.
…peacefulness of a sleeping baby.
…beauty of observing nature.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. –Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Isn’t it interesting to see how many times Jesus took time to commune with God away from the crowds? Jesus’ example of taking time daily to get away from the crowds and alone with His Father shows us that God’s love comes to us first in the small ways. Just being alone with God in nature, or by taking a walk, or going to a church, can result in a special encounter with our Father too.
Lord, help us to take time daily to follow Jesus’ example of seeking you in the quiet, small ways. Open our physical and spiritual eyes to see you in all. You are great, Lord. Amen.
Be encouraged this week to…
…see God’s love right in front of you.
…help point out God’s love to others.
…experience God’s love in small ways.
And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. –1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NLT)
