I'm a pretty avid reader, and over the holidays, I read the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. In no way proposing itself to be a Christian novel, I still say deeply Christian themes running through the books. The basis of the books are that there are five factions that uphold different traits in society. When teens turn sixteen they choose which faction they are called to be a part of, usually based off of traits that come naturally to them, which they learn through a test. The factions are: Abnegation who uphold selflessness, Amity who uphold peacefulness, Candor who uphold honesty, Dauntless who uphold bravery, and Erudite who uphold knowledge. In the last book (spoiler) you learn that that these traits are to combat the evils that manifest themselves in society - war, selfishness, lying, fear, and ignorance, which often cause societies to crumble.
In light of this week's scripture, I would add to this list a lack of love as something that causes societies to crumble. Not just loving our family or loving those who are like us, but rather loving as Christ loved. Loving those who are on the margins in society. Those who are different than us. Those who are sometimes hard for us to naturally love. Those we need to choose to love.
For when we becomes followers of Christ, we are invited to follow the two greatest commands that Jesus expounds upon - to love God with all we have and all we are - and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is this type of love that can transform lives and transform our world, if only we would truly move past knowing about this type of love to putting such love into action.
How is God calling you to love this week?
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