This last couple of years have been so hard for us all. We have been faced with isolation, health challenges, financial challenges, and spiritual challenges. Scripture tells us in 1John 2:15-16 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life-comes not from the Father but from the world.” We are not to be of the things of this world, yet we are. Let’s take a look at our dependence on the things of the world; Aren’t we dependent on our cell phones, our computer, and even, video gaming. We have become so technically dependent that we text message instead of calling or sending a note or card. When is the last time you actually had a face-to-face discussion with someone…and I am not talking about ZOOM. During these past few years, we have become use to the isolation and that is not what God wants us to do. We are told to fellowship with other believers, Acts 2:42-44 (NIV) “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.” We need to come together in fellowship, to support and encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24-25(NLT) states “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Who would have thought that churches would be closed down? Who would have believed that we would be zooming church from home on our computers or televisions? Well, the pandemic COVID, changed the way we did church. I am so grateful that during this time of isolation we could still do church, but it still seemed like something was missing…. human fellowship, smiles, laughter, greetings and love.

As we enter the Christmas season, even if it is with a mask on, let’s go to church, let’s call each other, have coffee with another Christian friend, send cards, even bake a cookie or meal and take it to someone, in other words, Let’s show the love of Jesus, as we celebrate Christmas. When it comes to the love of Jesus for us, we can find that throughout the bible. The number of scriptures about love are endless. Some of my favorites are: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”; Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. John 15:12 ““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” These are only a few of the scriptures that tell us about the love of Jesus. The Greatest command is Mark 12:30-31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” Sharing the love of Jesus with others is the greatest of the commandments.

So, the answer to the question: What the world needs now is the world needs a whole lot of Jesus and there is no better way to do that than to share the love of Jesus and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Our next blog will be on How to be the hands and feet of Jesus so stay tune.