Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

 

The Whites of Their Eyes

 

While driving down the main drag of a nearby town, I noticed the sign, “Contactless Ordering” outside a fast-food restaurant. It seems the business owner was touting this option as a drawing card for customers. But I immediately thought, “I don’t want contactless, I want a real person!” I want to see the whites of their eyes when I’m placing an order. I need to ask questions and get answers. I like to be silly and have fun with people I know and even people I don‘t know. Recently, I approached a local fast-food counter where a young man was taking orders and I said, “Tell me something I don’t already know.“ He was clearly stumped and asked, “About food?“ I couldn’t help but laugh at his response. I love that! Without interacting with people, our lives would be dull, lonely, and greatly lacking in laughter.

 

Let’s face it, how can we love people if we do everything within our power to isolate? I believe God created us to need one another and, therefore, be with one another. How can we be strengthened and encouraged when we perpetually choose to stay home and watch church online? A few times I’ve returned home from church and re-watched the service online and it was not the same. A sanctuary full of people who love Jesus and love one another is a totally different atmosphere from being home alone with me, myself, and I.

 

I appreciate what John the Beloved had to say about loving one another: “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us” (1 John 4:11-12 NLT). Not if, but when we’re tempted to be unloving, we need to remember that Jesus told us to love others in the same way that He loves us. That’s a tall order for sure. But Jesus never tells us to do something we can’t do because He provides the power to do it if we really want to obey His Word. “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13 NLT).

 

And then we have Apostle Paul’s letter to the church family in Colossae: “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:13-14 NLT). Loving people goes hand-in-hand with forgiving people. We’re supposed to wear love like we wear clothes. You wouldn’t dare leave home without a stitch of clothing on and, likewise, we better not leave home without being wrapped up in a love coat.

 

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, let’s remember that love makes the world go ‘round. February is known as the month of love, so put your heart and soul into loving people (whether you know them or not). Try throwing your love around like candy in a parade

 

The Key: Love never goes out of style, so put it on and wear it everyday.