Loving the People

Some days, verses mean different things.  Sometimes they speak to us differently.  Sometimes, it has to do with context.


"Not that I am speaking of being in in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me." 

PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13

Often, the last verse is all that is read.  Everyone who went through AWANA knows "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  I think the verses before it have just as much meaning, though.  Paul is talking about how God gives us strength for everything, not just the hard times.  He will give us what we need in any and everything, even the good times.

These are a few of my favorite verses, and they have been on my heart today.  Lately, I have been feeling down, and have been on the side of the verses with being low, hungry, and desperately in need of God's love, which I wasn't letting in, though he was offering it as freely as ever.  Today, though, I stand on the other side, the side of abundance and plenty.  I feel like I'm on top of the world.  The strange thing is, nothing happened to change that.  Nothing tangible, nothing I can point right at.

I knew I was lost, and God gave me the strength I needed to get out of the rut.  He helped me through, he helped me to accept his love and forgiveness, and now, I ask for his strength to help me give it all back to him.  He has blessed me so greatly, and now I need to give this abounding goodness to the people around me, I need to love them like God loved me - unconditionally.

None of us deserve God's love, none of us deserve love from anyone.  But we need it to live.  We need God's love, because his love brings his grace and forgiveness.  Its a tough thing, to need something we don't deserve.

I hope these verses speak to you in some way.  This is just what they mean to me today; that God gives us undeserved strength all the time, and he gives it to us out of love.  And with that blessing of strength, we should love the people around us, and show them how wonderful God's love is.  If we could love all of the people in any and every circumstance, just imagine how different of a world this would be!