How We Make a Difference
July 9, 2020 | Darrin Simpson
Hey Families, Darrin here.
We hope you are doing well. I saw a meme today scorning 2020 and all its frustrations. Ironically, it made me laugh… It just makes me ask – what’s next? As I sat in my office pondering today, Leah Lynch (Resource Coordinator for Kids & Students Ministries) brought up the idea of us talking about racial reconciliation. It’s been weighing on my heart, but I find myself getting in trouble when I speak up on the topic and equally getting in trouble when I don’t. There is so much tension, history, hurt, and brokenness wrapped up in racial reconciliation that families are at war with each other. Long-time friends are not speaking based on views and everything seems to come with division and divisiveness that is unshakable.
So, let’s talk about it, right? Perfect! I want to start off with some crystal-clear focus. This is not a political post. This is not a factual post or a post riddled with an agenda. This is simply a post with a desire to speak from my heart, join it to a Biblical perspective, and pray we all walk away challenged…
Point 1: Jesus Loves
When Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself in Matthew 22, I think He meant it. To take it a step further, Jesus said love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5). So much we could unpack in these two verses. Simple facts. We are called to love others as we love ourselves. Fact - If you cannot love yourself well, you will not love others well. It is not a selfish love, it is a confident love that we see in Jesus as recorded in the Gospels. Love well, even when it costs you something. When we get that, it changes us. We begin to see others the way Jesus does and our love for others becomes infectious.
Point 2: Love Is…
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13 what everyone quotes at weddings, but this is not a wedding only passage. It’s describing love. Remember – Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul elaborates on what love is. I encourage you, read this passage and ask yourself the question, what is love? If we only post our agenda on Social Media, but we don’t act, speak, care, or listen – are we loving? If my opinion matters more than my ability love, what does that say about me?
Paul Visscher did a video that is amazing and he calls people to do one thing. I would say the same. Care. Care Deeply. Love Boldly. Live Intentionally. That’s how we make a difference.