Three days ago, on December 5, 2018, our nation said a sad farewell to a much beloved former president, George H. W. Bush. At his memorial service dignitaries from around the world gathered together to pay him honor.
Many wonderful things were said about President Bush – fond memories, stirring tributes, humorous anecdotes, but it was words of Senator Alan Simpson which spoke to my heart.
Speaking of his old friend, Senator Simpson said, “He never hated anyone. He knew what his mother and my mother always knew: hatred corrodes the container it’s carried in.”
Nothing does more to degrade a nation than a culture of hatred and intolerance. We need only to look back at the horrendous acts perpetrated by the Nazis in World War II to see the truth of this. Likewise, nothing corrodes a soul like hatred harbored in the heart.
Love, on the other hand, builds bridges, not walls. It can make the bitterest of enemies friends, heal the deepest wounds. Love penetrates the hardest heart, soothes the most troubled spirit.
“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs 10:12 NIV
It was because of love that Christ came into this world as a babe in a manger and it was love that led Him to die on the Cross that we might be saved. And it is because of love He has promised, “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3 NIV.
Hatred corrodes, but love creates. There is enough hatred spewing from our airwaves, spreading on social media, and being acted out on the battlefields of this earth. It’s time for love to have a say!
This Christmas season and throughout the coming year, let’s banish any hint of hatred or intolerance from our vocabulary and from our lives. Instead, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” 1 John 4:7.
Remember it only takes a let leaven to raise a loaf of bread and it only takes a little love to lift a weary soul. Let’s lift each other up today and spread some love everywhere we go!
Have a very, very Happy Sabbath!
This is beautiful and so true!
A common sanctimonious cliche heard these days has been a bit overdone with distinct political overtones- building bridges instead of walls. Let’s not forget that God’s 10 commandments have often been compared to a hedge, fence, or wall to protect us from DANGER. Building bridges OVER them in presumptuous efforts to excuse obedience is foolishness.
Sanctimonious or not, and ignoring any political overtones, the truth is, love does build bridges. Was not this the reason Jesus came to this world, to bridge the chasm, created by sin, which divided humanity from God, to restore us into a saving relationship with our Heavenly Father? Did He not also come to break down “…the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:14-16 NKJV)? As you know, “the law of commandments contained in ordinances” refers to the ceremonial law. The 10 Commandments are eternal and unchanging, the foundation of God’s government, the clearest expression of His very character. By speaking of the power of love over hatred, it’s ability to build bridges, instead of walls, I am in no way trying to build bridges OVER the commandments in a presumptive effort to excuse obedience. I am merely trying to remind my readers to “love one another, for love comes from God.” If it seemed otherwise, I apologize. Some times my efforts to share God’s love fall feebly short. Please pray for me, that I may be “a good worker…who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NLT. Thank you Helmuth. May God continue to bless you and your family.