Today’s message from God Calling – A.J. Russell, reminds us that what we do and say are seeds sown.  Not only are they seeds sown into the hearts and lives of others, but also into our own hearts.  I hope you will all visit twolisteners.org and read the whole message; it’s powerful.  I want to concentrate on this one statement from the message that really impacted me.  “Always seek to understand others and you cannot fail to love them.”

As I read this message today, I thought of 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  When I think about making God’s Word personal, in regards to this scripture, it means that sin is covered to my eyes as well.  The twofold message is that God’s love covers our sins, –daily.  However, He doesn’t impute wickedness to us; meaning He looks for the best in us.  He looks at, and weighs the heart.  That’s what seeking to understand is about.  So, when we apply that scripture to any situation, we are empowered by love to look past the sin and see the heart of the person.  Love also seeks truth, because love tells the truth-always.  Therefore, we look at the truth of the circumstances, the situation.  

I’m using women in shorts as an example because that seems to be a big problem, and a serious error in perception to some men.  In fact, I heard a comment last evening about me “showing out.”  All I was doing was sitting in the shade, reading my book.  My shorts were entirely appropriate-not “booty shorts,” or the like.  First of all, the truth is that it’s very hot, sometimes dangerously so, outside.  Secondly, not every woman wearing shorts is looking to sell herself sexually; not all of us are advertising services.  Thirdly, why is your mind in the devil’s playground?   If you were really walking in the Spirit, your mind wouldn’t even be in the devil’s playground and thinking about sexual services or the like.  Sex belongs between a man and his wife.  I’m not your wife; why are you thinking about me sexually?   Take some responsibility for yourself,  and stop trying to pass the buck, Sir.  Get your mind where it belongs.  You don’t have to stand in the judgment for anybody but yourself.  You can’t stand there for me because you’re a sinner too.  And, for the record, Jesus already did stand; for both of us.

Here’s how the second part of that love cover works for us:  Love also covers your own eyes in the face of sin, so that you can see -and admit- the truth, apply this truth, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice,” and not sin, yourself.   When we practice this principle, we are empowering love, and love conquers all sin.  I’ve had to check myself more than once, I’m ashamed to say, in regard to this principle.  But, thank God, He is a loving and merciful Father, and His mercies are new every morning.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

Copyright by Marina Morrison (aka) Eden Stillwater, June 29, 2019, 10:57 a.m.