One of my favorite quotes comes from Mother Teresa, “We are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world.”
Every time I read it there is a little sting as I consider my actions and whether they express the love of God or selfishness that needs a visit from the eraser of God. I’m not talking about salvation by works. as salvation is a free gift from God purchased for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. I’m talking about John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The litmus test of our Christianity to the world is not our talk but our love walk. Our lives daily should reflect the love of God to the world in expression and deed. Love is not tolerance, but blessing and truth.
My son Jamie recently challenged the VFC congregation to consider the source of their righteousness. He said, “There are three types of righteousness and only the third one works: 1) the righteousness of the world (do your best and hope you make God happy) 2) the righteousness of religion (tear others down in order to make yourself look righteous by comparison) 3) the righteousness of Jesus (realize that no one is righteous without outside help and the only person qualified to assist us is Jesus. So trust that His righteousness has been given to you as a gift).”
Right standing with God can only come through Jesus but right standing with the world we live in can only come through a love walk that proves we are His disciples. The world is not hungry for Christians who have the perfect Christian lingo but Christians whose love walk produces fruit that any man, women, boy or girl can be nourished by. Being a love letter to the world requires laying down our selfishness and our judgment and expressing the truth of God in love, humility and service. A life laid down is the ultimate expression of love as shown to us by Jesus who laid his life down for us. Is it easy? Of course not, but it is well worth the death process. The Message Bible calls disciples “climbing companions”. Often, expressing the love of God to others is a mountainous climb but it is never a climb we do alone but as His companion.
Seeing a life changed because you were willing to love is an amazing thing. It is greater than any worldly experience or possession. It is something that changes you from the inside out forever. My challenge to you and to myself is become that pencil in the hand of a writing God that is sending a love letter to your family, your church, your community and the world. Start composing your letter today!