A Love Encounter

        As a parent, I am truly amazed how much time has passed.  It’s passing so fast; I really wish sometimes life had a pause button.  Yet, sometimes the lessons we encounter in life do cause us to pause for what matters.  At the dinner table, I am grateful for a heartfelt conversation with my son.  Although he was afraid to discuss what happened, I am so grateful he did.  Of my three children, he is the most sensitive to the needs of others, he is filled with compassion.  As a child, he would see the hurting and do what he could to help.  I recall a story of my son’s kindness that brings me to tears.  My best friend came over with her son to have a play date.  As we enjoyed adult conversation, the children were playing nicely in the room.  It was a peaceful play date until Jacob, my best friend’s son got hurt.  It wasn’t anything serious, a scrapped knee.  Yet, my son walked over to comfort him with a simple token of love.  Alex, my son, walked over to sit beside him.  As he sat beside Jacob, he shared his most sacred possession, his blanket.  Although the boys were best friends, they were just learning how to talk.  Yet, the love shown between two friends spoke greater than any words.

      As my son has grown, he has never lost his heart of compassion.  It’s not only something I cherish; it’s challenged me with my walk with God.  Compassion demonstrates love; it speaks without words spoken.  Yet, it doesn’t just move the heart of those receiving it; it moves the heart of God.  If we are to walk with Christ, we are to walk in love.  It’s not only proof of who we belong too, its evidence we have been changed from it. 

                2 John 6: “And this is love that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

     If our hearts our cold to the hurting, maybe we need to remember our first encounter of God’s love.  Anyone who is saint was once a sinner who was found in a horrible pit of sin and despair.  It wasn’t until a love encounter with God changed everything.  Until a person encounters the depth of God’s love personally, he will not change.  Sadly, so many people hear God loves them but don’t encounter Him.  Sin separates us from a relationship with God but it doesn’t separate us from His love. 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:8

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Why?  Our Father had compassion upon us; He saw the brokenness of sin.  As a child has a scrapped knee cries for their mother, Our Father saw the cries of the affliction of sin, so He acted.  He couldn’t turn away from those He created with tenderness.  As the psalmist says, “He has compassion towards all He made.”  It doesn’t matter what timeframe of history we lived, God has compassion towards all. 

“The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving towards all he has made.  The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” ~Psalm 145:13b-14

     No matter what your circumstances of life, life may not be fair at the moment.  It’s dark, unsure, and lonely until a love encounter with God occurs.  Although life may be dark; God is light.  He desires to lead you to peaceful pastures for your soul.  (Psalm 23)  Life can bring has some uncertainties, He is constant.  He doesn’t change.  If loneliness surrounds your heart; call upon Him.  His presence will come; He has never ignored those who call.  Maybe you have never prayed to God, so you are unsure what to say.  It doesn’t have to be great words to get His attention; it just has to come from the heart.  A heart completely honest, sincere, and if it’s broken that’s alright.  He is in the business of restoration; it’s what the love encounter is all about.