I’ve been thinking a lot about this blog, inspired by my husband’s experience with full-time online college classes. He wrote a paper that caught my attention—it was about something important: Loving God and people. In our diverse world, where everyone is different, this idea of “Love God and Love People” is like a constant thread woven into our faith. But here’s the thing: it’s not a one-time decision. It’s a commitment we make every day, and sometimes it’s not easy. Join me as we explore what it means to love God and people in our daily lives, using Bible verses and understanding encounters with what my Mom has called “sandpaper people” to help us grow in love.
A Daily Choice: The Bible says, “And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.” (1 John 4:16, KJV). This means loving God and people isn’t just a one-time thing; it’s a choice we make every day. As we stay connected to God’s love, we get the strength to love others. Every day gives us new chances to live out this love, relying on God’s grace and guidance.
Loving Despite Challenges: The Bible recognizes that loving others can be hard. “Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8, KJV). Loving deeply means choosing love, even when things get tough. It’s knowing that our love, like God’s love, can overcome problems and help us understand each other better.
Sandpaper People and Learning Love: We all come across “sandpaper people” in our lives—those folks with rough edges that challenge us. But guess what? They help us grow. In Proverbs, it says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, KJV). It’s like saying these challenging interactions, though not always easy, make us better. Embracing these lessons helps us learn the art of unconditional love.
Perseverance in Love: Loving God and people is a journey that needs perseverance. “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:9, KJV). There will be times when we feel tired, but Galatians encourages us to keep going. Our daily efforts to love, even when it’s hard, contribute to a big harvest of love in the end.
Conclusion: In our faith journey, “Love God and Love People” is like a bright thread. It’s woven into our daily choices, challenges, and encounters with “sandpaper people.” Every day is a chance to learn, grow, and keep going in love. As we go through each day, may our hearts stay open to the powerful love that transforms us, reflecting the divine love that surrounds us all.
Below here is the Danny Gokey song and I also wanted to add another song below it –
With Love and Merry Christmas,
Kayla (Katie Bee)