** For the next several days I’ll be sharing insights penned during our recent trip to Italy.**
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even those who believed His name, who were born, not of the will of the flesh or the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13 NASB 1995)
It’s remarkable to realize that God’s family size is not limited by His resources or even His will. His family size is only limited by man’s acceptance of His invitation. He happily receives all who trust in Him; those that choose to believe in His name and receive Him. He props open the door of His home with love.
Human families are limited by many things: physicality, resources, exhaustion and desire (for children or spouse). Yet, God has set the governor on His family size quite outside of Himself. He leaves the door to His home ajar and lets all who are willing enter. What a wondrous thing, His love for us!
The gospel of John reminds me of the letters from John. My Upper Zoom group has been sitting in 1 John chapter 3 for weeks now and this extended consideration has brought clarity to the two ways we might live: the way of Cain or the way of Love. Cain cut his family down out of his evil nature whereas God expands His family out of His loving nature.
"For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous." (1 John 3:11-12 NASB 1995)
John reminds us: the anthesis to the heart of Cain is the heart of God. The way of Cain is the way of the world: jealous, comparing, vicious and grasping. The way of Cain is well-traveled, seemingly without consequence. Conversely, the way of Love is expansive, familial, sacrificial and invitational. The way of Love is counter-cultural and Christlike.
Our Italian friends have expressed the way of Love all week. They’ve joyfully opened their home, their hearts, and their country. Taste and see has been the repeated invitation of our journey: look here, try this, slow down and savor being together.
This whole trip has made me wonder, how can I live out the heart of God more fully? How do I throw back the gates of my life and let others in?
We are only in Italy for our twenty-fifth anniversary because of that level of open-hearted love. Someone gave out of grandiose generosity, setting a seed in our pocket and planting a dream in our hearts. It makes me pause and consider, what can I do to extend the expansive love I’ve received out into the souls around me?
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (1 John 1:16 NASB 1995)
Lord, help us live a laid-down life; a life that prioritizes others above ourselves, a life that looks to expand the family and invites others to feel welcome. Prop open the doors of our hearts and make us as generous as You, O God.
Help us learn to love in deed and truth. Amen.