Show Love In Your World

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)

There was a time when those who believed in Christ were free to say and do whatever they felt was right and good publicly, without fear of oppression and ridicule.  Those days appear to be fast disappearing and as Christians, when we make speeches and stand up for God’s Word publicly, we often find ourselves the recipients of persecution and belittling language.  This leaves us feeling like we do not have a foothold in the world from which to present the cause of Christ.  This leaves us impotent and fearful, and we tend to back down and give up.  This is not the end of our influence, however, as Jesus has already shown us how to defeat the wiles of this world.

Since this world does not want to hear what we have to say, we must work within our own portion of the world that we have sway in.  Those places are our families, our homes, our churches, our workplaces, and among our friends.  We must not forget the places we frequent, such as grocery stores, shopping centers, and our neighborhoods. The local pool, the golf course, or the movie houses are all great places to show love.

This is what it is all about.  Showing the love of Jesus to the world we, ourselves, live within.

I cannot stand on a platform and make a speech and expect it to be broadcast around the world.  But I can quietly share some words with a neighbor who may have just found out she has a debilitating illness.  I can take a meal to a family that has fallen on some difficult times.  I can share an experience I have been through, and lived to tell about, with a person now facing the same situation.  I can hold a person’s hand, give them a hug, and simply listen as they talk.  This is showing love in my own personal world.

What we fail to understand is how the love of Jesus works.  When we take it upon ourselves to share that special love with another, it has a ripple effect, much like when you throw a smooth stone into a lake.  It starts out very small, but the round ripples grow bigger and bigger the farther out they go.  It is just like that with the love of Christ.  One small kind word, a good deed done with the right motivation, is done and it is passed on to another person, and it goes on, and on, and on.  When we touch our own world, the small things we do will eventually ripple out to the rest of the world.  And on it goes.

The possibilities are endless.  The numbers of lost and hurting people who may be touched by the most simple acts of love are infinite.  We will never know on this side of the Jordan River how many have come to Christ by love that was shared in our own personal world.  But God will know.  And He will be glorified by it.  Even one life saved is worth it.  One soul freed from heartbreak is worth it.  One lifted head is worth it.

You can show love in your world, no matter where you live, what you do, who you are.  If you know Christ, you have the tools to accomplish much with small gestures of love, caring, kindness.  He did it for you … now you can do it for others.

“Jesus said, ‘I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’ ” John 13:15 

Blessings!

What have you done that you have later seen make a difference for Christ in another person’s life? Please post a comment here, or go to www.mystoryofgrace.com.  We want to celebrate with you!