And They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love

You may have noticed that I have been keen on the love theme in my blogs this month. After all, it is the love month! Nevertheless, I must admit my love battery needs a charge. My attention to details has been diverted and I’ve neglected to pay attention to matters that need serious attention and intervention.

I am referring to closing my eyes with a lack of concern and prayers for our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. That ISN’T love. And love is the most important characteristic of being a Christian. You know the song, “And, they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” I submit my desire to be “one” of those who are known by their love.

This love of ours, as Christians, stems from the greatest Lover and Love Story of all, the ONE who selflessly and sacrificially gave His life for all His children. So, as brothers and sisters who bask in being in this beautiful Family of God, shouldn’t we be earnestly praying, in love, for our Ukrainian (and even our Russian) brothers and sisters?

In my desires to focus on our Ukrainian and Russian “family”, I thought about Rick Renner, a friend of ours from the age of 16, and through my husband’s ministry to him, he gave his heart to Christ and received the Holy Spirit. I like to think that we played a small, even mustard-seed size part in his life.

Today Rick is the senior pastor of the Moscow Good News Church in Russia. So, who better to seek advice about Russia and the Ukraine than Rick? These are his words that I believe we should all take to heart.

“Today people are sitting in front of their televisions and computers to watch the news, and many have hearts filled with fear and unanswerable questions. I want to remind you that regardless of what is happening in our world, Jesus is Lord, and this is a time to focus on His faithfulness and to stand on the promises of His Word, especially those in Psalm 91. Denise and I and our family and ministry are very safe in Moscow. We are safe in the will of God and see this as a time for us to minister to many people who are in need and who are in fear. History has seen many conflicts over the ages, but the Kingdom of God moves forward regardless of what is happening in the world. And the Gospel is very needed right now — sharing the Gospel is our assignment!”

And “sharing the Gospel” is our assignment, too! I love Rick’s words – especially Psalm 91 (my favorite chapter) verse 1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” That is our secret place and the secret place of all of God’s children around the world.
Our world needs the love of God to have the life God wants us to live. The believers in the Ukraine and Russia are our brothers and sisters and we’ll know each of them one day in heaven. We should pray for them like they are family. They ARE family.

God’s love is our strength, our hope, our help. This world, her countries, cities, homes, and families need the incredible power that our love for God can release into our world. There is an increasing darkness in our world at large. It is up to us – to be God’s Light in the darkness. That Light comes in the form of prayer and sharing the Good News.

When we interact with people in our lives, they should sense that Jesus is behind our words, our strength, and our motives. Won’t you join me in praying for our brothers and sisters like Jesus would pray for them—like Jesus IS praying for them? His is a powerful love that changes the world.

Will you stop and join me right now, in praying the Lord’s Prayer for our Ukrainian and Russian “family” today? “Our Father Who Art in Heaven…….”