Do we love God... truly love God? the example of one who loves God is one who obeys, who keeps His commands. i am reminded of that old campfire song "We Are One In the Spirit" or something like that... (if you want to read the lyrics and sing along - click HERE) The chorus of that songs says "They will know we are Christians by our love." If we keep God's commands (i.e. love) then the world will notice... not that we do things to get noticed - but how we live is an example of how much we love God.
so is that song true? - 'they' will know we are Christians by our love. I don't know if 'they' (i.e. the world) will know that we are a follower of Christ - but i do believe that 'they' will recognize something different in us.
so here's a question: can our love change the world? I've often asked my youth a similar question: what would it be like if everyone on earth put others first? the first response usually is "there'd be long lines of people saying 'you first', 'no, you first, i insist.'
so yeah, love can change the world - but maybe it's more that our faith will change the world and our faith in God compels us to love.
in 1 John 5:5 says that those who believe overcome the world. The Message translation says we 'conquer' the world and bring it to its knees. Our faith changes things.
does faith change:
our world
their world or
the world?
i think faith changes things in that order... first it changes our world. we begin to see what God sees in us. we follow Christ and strive to live out his teachings. we learn to love God, love others and love ourselves.
as a result we change their world... the worlds of those we come in contact with. we don't wear a badge that says "I'm Joe Christian", but the outward expression of our inward faith is exemplified.
collectively, as the body of Christ we can change the world. but not without unity.
somehow this all goes back to that camp song. if i recall the first verse goes this way:
"We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored."
we can change our world. we can change their world. but we can only change the world if we become united in love and united in truth...
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" I think faith changes things in that order... first it changes our world. we begin to see what God sees in us. we follow Christ and strive to live out his teachings. we learn to love God, love others and love ourselves.
as a result we change their world... the worlds of those we come in contact with. we don't wear a badge that says "I'm Joe Christian", but the outward expression of our inward faith is exemplified.
collectively, as the body of Christ we can change the world. but not without unity. "
That makes sense. I think I'm going to print this quote out and stick it in my locker as a reminder :)
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