Ordinary Time

Pause

By God’s grace, just as you are:

You are here.

You are known.

You are loved.

Listen

Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love. This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him.

1 John 4:7-9

Think

When I was in elementary school, my teacher would call each student by name, one by one. Each student would say “here” or “present” to say that they showed up that day.

According to the writer of 1 John, the way we know God loves us is that Jesus shows up. Because Jesus shows up, the love of God shows up too.

Showing up is being there. Showing up is not hiding. Showing up is allowing people to know that you are with them.

When we know we are loved by God, we believe that God showed love for us in Christ. But love doesn’t stop there. The love of God makes it possible for us to show up with love for someone else. So today, when you are called to love someone, don’t be afraid to say “here” and be present because God’s love shows up with you.

Tasha Gibson

Pray

God, thank you for showing up in a very particular, one-of-a-kind, and life-changing way for me in Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord, for showing up across these weeks that have been a part of A Season of PASSPORT. Now God, please empower me, by your Spirit, to share your love with someone else today by showing up for them. And may my showing up be life-giving for those whom you call me to love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

Go

Before you knew it, you were loved. Now, let the love of God help you live like you are loved today.