By Erica Schieffer, EDGE Coordinator
“I AM the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of Life.”
I love scripture. Scripture is our very own beautiful love story that God wrote about us, for us, and to us. How we each read our story strikes us all differently, but the message is still the same.
LOVE! We are not called to judge or condemn others; we are called to simply love them, love without fear, and to remind those that have forgotten God’s love for them.
As I read through the Bible, God’s love letter to me sounds like this; yours may have different fears you struggle with, but the message is still the same:
“Daughter, Let Me tell you the ways that I love you. I love you more than the stars in the sky, and the birds of the air. You are clothed in My light and you are more beautiful than the flowers of the fields. I call you perfect and whole the way I made you. Do not be afraid. I am always with you. I am in all. All are created in My image. As you do unto others you do to Me. Bless those who come against you, for they have only forgotten that they too are perfectly loved. There is no fear in love, for love casts out fear. You have not been given a spirit of fear, daughter, but of power and love. When you stand with Me, who can stand against you? Even death itself has no sting. I tell you, daughter, unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But in death it bears the fruit of new life. This is my commandment, that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. Love is greater than fear, in perfect love there is no fear. But the choice to love is yours. Love or fear. Light or darkness. You cannot do both at the same time. Do not be afraid, for I am always with you. I have already overcome all darkness. All I call you to do, daughter, is love. Let go of your fears. Be filled with My love. Do not resist when evil comes against you, rather love as I have loved. Only in surrender will you know the fullness of my love. A love without fear. Follow me, daughter, I named and knew you before the beginning of time. Follow me in love.”
Life was once explained to me as a series of remembering and forgetting. Each day is a new day and a new chance to choose love and to remember who we are called to be. God created us perfect and whole in love, for love, and to love. We are called to take God’s love and remind those who have forgotten God’s love for them.
Will you help me spread the Light of Christ to those lost in the dark and who have forgotten who they are and whose they are?