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But God Meant Everybody!
From Leviticus 19: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Our oldest was six years old when she asked her mom, "Not everybody likes Daddy, right?" Sadly, a lesson she was learning from church in her Sunday school. Where one would assume teachers would teach their children love from them and towards everyone, this teacher did not like me or my sermons, and used her Sunday school hour to criticize and put down my pastorate. God's intention for all who would believe in God is to be holy; not holier than thou, as was the case with this teacher, but the holy that exudes the humility, love, and awe towards God, and a loving acceptance of all people, no exceptions. The Great Commission states our mission is to all the world, again, no exceptions. In this passage God is saying that our holiness should also lead us to love and acceptance of both poor and rich, kindness and charity, and love beyond hatred or indifference. And it starts with love for ourselves. For some people that's an easy thing and they love themselves a little too much; others struggle with self-image and negativity towards themselves; some with bitterness and uneasiness about their past, and thus cannot love others in the right way because they do not love themselves. Love for neighbor begins with love for self the way God loves us. God's love sees us just as we are and accepts us. God's love should rub off on us as we begin to love all people. I have said that the Communion ritual of Confession should include the line, "We have not recognized all people as our neighbor" right before "we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves." Yes, there are differences between us but that should make us unique and special, not bring about barrier and lines that we dare not cross. The billboard above says it all, God means this and we should follow it and live it.
This past Sunday our worship concluded with a CD playing The Beatles' "All You Need is Love." It was a special service and marriage vows were reaffirmed and the sermon stressed love for all, and as the lyrics came on the screen I realized I had not known all the words to that song. If you're like me, we either hum the unknown words or make up words that sound just like we think they're singing. "There's nothing you can do that can't be done; Nothing you can sing that can't be sun; Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game, it's easy. Nothing you can make that can't be made;No one you can save that can't be saved; Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be in time, it's easy...All you need is love." Love has saved many a person for all eternity, and it may just be that our love today towards someone struggling without it, may lead them to a relationship with God that lasts for all time and beyond time.
All you need is love. For everyone.
PRAYER: Loving God, forgive me for taking sides or for loving myself too much that I forget to love others. Forgive me for not recognizing others as my neighbor, and forgive me for not loving my neighbor as myself. I need more of Your love so that I may love more. This I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
