I Hope You Are Listening!

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34

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Jesus could have likewise said, “So I am giving you a new commandment. Listen to one another just as I have listened to you…!” Listening is one part of love. Stop for a moment and ask yourself, “How has God listened to you?” Has He listened, not only when it was to his advantage? Has he given His attention only when we were being kind to a stranger or when we were singing in church? No! Fortunately for us God also listened when we got into trouble and when we fell into sin. God has listened at those times and He has been ready to bring us restoration and forgiveness. When we know deep in our hearts that God will always listen, we will be ready to hear what He has to say.

Now think about the people around you in the nursing home. Who is listening to them? Are you? Am I? One woman who was a nursing home resident wrote, “No one touches me who is not paid to do so.” In other words, “No is willing to help me unless it is to their advantage.” We, as Christians have a unique opportunity to show others the love of Christ by listening. When we slow down long enough to hear what others are saying, we are also offering them the hope that God is listening too!

How Did Noah Build The Ark?

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord Genesis 6:8

For those who have not made it to see the Ark Encounter it may be difficult to imagine not only the size, but also the tremendous amount of details involved in the ark. God’s instructions were clear on the dimensions and to make a window and a door. The rest of the thousands of decisions as to exactly how to build the ark were left up to Noah. How did he do it? God doesn’t tell us much but we know one thing about Noah: He found grace in the eyes of the Lord!

In the same way Jesus has given us His clear commandment: Love one another:

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He wasn’t specific on the details of our obedience to this important mission. He is trusting us to fill in the blanks each and every day with the exciting, challenging and sometimes downright complicated outworking of that obwdience.

If you are struggling at times like I am with learning to love don’t be discouraged. There is one wonderful reason one reason to not give up and walk away: Grace!  By God’s grace we can figure it out just like Noah. It is a gigantic task but by grace, the love of Christ in us is up to the task!

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19

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