Scripture: 1st John 4:11-12
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Thought for the Day: Last night I ran to Subway for a sandwich before an evening meeting at the church. As I came back to the office, I reached for the door and at the same time dropped my sandwich. It fell in the perfect place, right in front of my foot. And yes, I stepped squarely on my 6 inch sandwich. My foot is about 3 inches wide, and so that left a little over an inch on each end that wasn’t flat. I got into my office, took the wrapper off to assess the damage, and decided to go ahead and eat nonetheless. And what amazed me was that it tasted exactly like every other sandwich I had purchased from Subway…quite good. Just because I had stomped on it did not compromise the value of the sandwich, though many would have questioned its value at first glance.
We all have been stomped on (physically, emotionally, spiritually) at one time or another, and this experience has often made us feel as if our value and worth has been compromised. In fact, we might even have a few dents and scars to show for it. But at the end of the day, God loved us so much and that simple fact is the ultimate source of our value, a value that cannot be undermined or discredited by anything done to us. When we then follow the lead of God by loving one another, we are helping to reinforce God’s opinion of our sisters and brothers.
Prayer: In your love, Lord, I find my value as one of your children. As I celebrate this gift, may I draw others into an awareness of their genuine value in your eyes. Amen.
See You At Noon
for the Study
