As the weeks go by I am continually being immersed and challenged by new situations, concepts, and beliefs. God is challenging me everyday to live outside my comfort zone and walk with in His boldness and authority. By abiding in Christ, I can rest in the promise that He is leading me to peaceful streams in midst of battle.
God has been teaching me about loving people purely, without attaching any labels to them. And that started at the garbage dump.
These families live on the edge of the garbage pile, sleeping and cooking under scraps of wood, plastic, and tarps. In tattered clothes these men, women, and children work in order to make a few coins, Each day families compete with ravens, crows, and dogs for rotten food scraps so they can eat one meal a day.
But God does not define these precious souls as people who live and work at the dump. They are viewd with perfection as they are made in the image of God. Each one has a story and a past that is not created by their current situation. Their brown eyes radiate joy and their creased skin speaks of perseverance and hard work. And the feet of these workers tells how they have walked through life without giving up.
They
Are created in the image of God
Are fearfully and wonderfully made
Are continualy being pursued by our Heavenly Father
Are loved by the Lord
Are given many ablitities, strengths, and skills
ARE NOT IGNORED
The Lord does not judge us by the family we are born into, our mistakes and failures, our status, who we associate with, and how others view us. His love for us is pure and genuine.
My challenge for us is that we would quite labeling people with our assumptions of them. Instead we are commanded to love the way the Lord loves us. For when we do that, love will break down language and cultural barriers. Christ-like relationships can be built and the word of God can be spread and received by eager and hungry hearts
1 Corinthians 13:1 If I could speak all the languages of the earth and of angles, but didn’t love others, I would be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
1 Corinthians 13:3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
