We are going to spend a couple of days thinking about who we are called love. You may have all sorts of different people in your pot, box or jar, so let's think about them all...We'll start with the "easy" ones - friends and family. For those of us following Jesus, we are blessed with two families, our biological and our church families. Both family just established thanks to different blood. Often these relationships happen so naturally that we know these people well, they know us, and it is not too difficult to think of ways to show that you love them. But how about those family members who don't know Jesus? Is there an opportunity during Love40days to show that not only do we love them but that God does too? And how about those extended family members who we don't see so often, is there a way we can deepen relationship or let them know they are not forgotten? A way to have patience with those with whom we don't click in the same way? A way to include others in our friendship circles at church or make an effort with somebody we don't know or understand so well?
What about our friends? Do we have people outside of the church with whom we are regularly sharing our lives? Do we have lots of facebook friends and online followers to whom we can share photographs of perfect moments but not so many face-to-face friends who see us at our less-than-polished-best and can be counted upon in a crisis? Are we making friends in the "now" season to which God has called us or only sticking with an old safer circle?
These are a few of the many questions we can ask ourselves today as we think about how God is calling us to love our friends and family. Perhaps we can use Love40days as an oppotunity to review whether there are any close relationships that we have taken for granted or neglected especially in this social media age. Is there something specific God is calling you up to do amongst those who are closest to you in your world? Why not ask him and see what he can do through you today?
