How precious is a heart!
Our heart is the very thing keeping us alive, and we must gently, with great compassion and care, cherish the hearts of others.
Think of it this way: if the doctor told you today that you had heart disease, you would seek out the most experienced heart surgeon to carefully mend your heart as needed.
So why, then, would you attack, abuse, verbally berate, or mock a sinner whose heart is hurting, broken, or suffering from a story you know nothing about?
As Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
This is where our faith in Jesus Christ comes into play.
Just as Jesus showed the world compassion in our sin by dying on the cross to redeem us from death—a death derived from a sick and deceitful heart—why do professing Christians believe that they are somehow above anyone else who is sick in their heart and acting out?
Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
It’s something to think about, reflect on, repent of, and seek Jesus and His Word to be changed and transformed to love, even those who are the most different from us.
As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.”
That includes your political opponents!
To love is to care and protect, to pray for those in need of a touch from God. Let Jesus work in you so that the work on the cross is reflected in the world through the love and mercy He showed us.
As Ephesians 4:32 encourages us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
We didn’t deserve it, and oftentimes the people we may see as political, and even religious, enemies don’t deserve it either. But to love, is to pray, and to keep our mouths from sin is a visible sign that Jesus is at work.
Take a look; this is what real love looks like.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV)
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John 15:12-13 (NIV)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Romans 13:10 (NIV)
“Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
Ephesians 5:2 (NIV)
“And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Colossians 3:14 (NIV)
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
With Jesus, you can too.
In today’s idea of churches, love can sometimes feel (be) fake or rehearsed; it is merely a state of the art.
However true love is a state of being, carefree but caring, and no matter how battered, bruised, broken, angry, hurt, crushed, deceived, or destroyed a heart may become, it can be restored through Christ, our Savior.
Do you know how I know?
I’ve lived through it. I may not look like the hell I’ve been through, and my heart no longer resembles what it’s been through, even after all the times people—or professing Christians—tried to destroy it.
The hem of Jesus’ garment was enough to fix it.
As Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Christ’s love can heal the deepest wounds and restore even the most broken hearts.
Much love and truth,
Sister Christine ❤️
C. Beach ©️