“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.”

When I read this, I realize that I am called to point the way to Christ, to live as Christ would have me live, including leaving out the condemnation/judgment of others. We may not be happy with the way other people live, and we may not understand why people act the way they do; however, if we would look beyond all of the negatives for the good in each person – the “God-created good” – it would help our world see Christ in us. These are the things which help our world to know Christ’s love and forgiveness for everyone.

GOD OF GRACE AND MERCY, WE DO NOT ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO BE VENUES OF CHRIST’S LOVE TO THE WORLD AROUND US. OPEN OUR EYES, EARS AND HEARTS TO BE DISCERNING OF PEOPLE AND THEIR SITUATIONS. CLOSE OUR MOUTHS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS WE CAN SPEAK YOUR WORDS OF LOVE AND WISDOM. AMEN.

-Shared by Cynthia Maddux