By Rev. Louis Keeling
Iuka Methodist and Sawyer Community churches
Special to the Tribune
God wants us to make the first move. Initiating anything can be intimidating at times. We are very comfortable to wait and do good to those that do good to us but it can be a vulnerable or scary place to make the first move. By being the first to reach out we might be rejected or worse yet ridiculed, but to only react or reciprocate what others do to or for us is not what God wants us to do. God has called us to love and to reach out regardless of the circumstance or the people before us. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells us to put love into action:
“Luke 6:27-38 NIV
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Our first move is technically a response as “God first loved us.” Our decision is whether we will respond to God’s love or react to the good or bad of humanity. Jesus calls us to put the love and mercy that we have been given and move forward in action loving those around you. Where do you begin? Start with those in front of you and don’t look back. It’s your move!
