September 11th: Those words cause mix reactions in different people. 14 years ago, those of us on the west coast were waking up to a nightmare in the United States. Even now, so many years later, there is still anger, fear, and questions associated with them. Evil still exists in the world. Now we have police officers being targeted, sex trafficking, domestic violence on the rise, you name it!
So where do followers of Christ stand in all this? Does evil affect our hearts? It should! Do we walk around scared or withdrawn, or strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit in us? (rhetorical question) What does God call us to for today? I believe it is pretty simple; Love Him & Love Others.
We are able to rest in three main concepts: Faith, Hope, and Love. We don't have to wonder about why September 11th happened. We have faith in God. We don't have worry about our future on this earth, we have hope. We need to be about God's mission here, caring for the sick and poor, showing kindness to those who we don't agree with, praying for our enemies even while they hate us; we have love.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 says, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love".
We don't see the big picture right now. We only see an imperfect reflection of what God sees very clearly in heaven. We only know in part what God knows fully. That glorious day when we stand in His presence, we'll know. For now, the greatest is love. Go out today and demonstrate it!
Philip J.
