By: Elizabeth Haarberg

Love and Rejection

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link. 

Events in our life and in the news can elevate our blood pressure and create fear and anger. The multitude of questions can be overwhelming. Where is God? Why does he allow bad things to happen?

Some of the recent events in the world have caused me to remember how God’s love works.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 English Standard Version

The only people who can truly love are the ones who know God. If they don’t love, they don’t know God. So, the people who do not act lovingly or who act with evil intent have rejected God. This is how His love works. God can’t compel those who reject Him to do something they don’t want to do because His love is given freely, not forced on anyone. There are universal laws that even God has to abide.

But people who know God and freely receive his love, turn around and give love, they are the vessels that change the world here. The freely-given love that we receive and then pour out on the world creates the opportunity for those who have previously rejected God to then receive Him. It can change the individuals which can then change the world.

But…the reminder is that we live in a world that will not be completely clean until Jesus returns. Earth is not heaven and we shouldn’t expect it to be. Our part is to become more like Christ and model Christ to all we encounter. Magnifying God is the pursuit of our life.

“My soul magnifies the Lord,”
Luke 1: 46 English Standard Version

This walk isn’t always easy, but it’s the most fun I’ve ever had. And there’s a reassurance that we will have a happy ending forever. Just keep going! It’s worth every step.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Peter 5:10 English Standard Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado