Well, it’s another Sunday morning. “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 (ESV)
We celebrated our country’s independence this week. Most were enjoying some barbecue, a nice glass of tea or maybe some lemonade, and then at night we all enjoyed some nice fireworks. Their booms and crackles and sparkles light up the sky like swarms of lightening bugs in a perfect ballet. What a wonderful day it always turns out to be.
I remember when I was younger we would go to the Steeleville picnic in Steeleville, Illinois. We would spend all day into the evening there. Then to end the evening everyone would gather around, looking up into the sky with the anticipation of a child waiting for the fireworks. To me it was wonderful and magical to watch the night sky light up with all the awesome sights and the sounds. So does that describe your day or was your Independence Day nothing like that?
See, I remember fondly what my youth brought to me, all the sites and sounds of a fun day. I pray you had a wonderful day but, what if you didn’t. What if your lemonade was actually lemons? Are you being swallowed up by all of your valleys and dark places? Are the obstacles in your life overriding the good experiences? When you look around is there nothing but lemons? Are you wondering where to find the strength to cut these lemons and make your lemonade? In the darkness, how can you even see to hold the knife, let alone cut a lemon. In these valleys how can you get the strength to even climb to reach the knife especially in the darkness. In John 11:10 (ESV) we read this, “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
God never intended for your life to be that way. See, if you believe, God will make the lemonade! All we are ask to do is to love and believe, WOW, that as easy as it gets. If we believe and love our great God, he will take all your lemons and make lemonade.
In Romans 8:28, Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, said this “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” “ALL” means just that, not some, not a little bit, not a small part, ALL is ALL. So when Paul wrote in that verse “and we know that in all things” that includes everything without a doubt. The only thing required is to believe and love.
See, I get this, I understand. I know God is working for the good of all of us who believe and love. Now, to love God is to love all of God’s work. We are all God’s work, so, we are to love one another. Even when you aren’t very fond of someone, you are to love them. It’s not hard to find the Grace in our great LORD, just love as he would have loved and there it will be. Reach out to others, even if you don’t think their response will be good, reach out. You might get a surprise, or not.
The times they receive your hand in love are the best. Don’t hold back, Jesus didn’t. He went forward knowing the end results would be greater than imaginable after the earthly walk. Now, everyone will not greet your love with love, some will reject your advances. Pray for them, pray for their family, and continue to love them. They just might be looking for a way to get all their lemons into lemonade, too, but can’t see to cut the lemons for the darkness. God has a plan for each and every one of us, He wants us all to succeed in all we take on. When God says ALL it means just that, ALL. His mercy and grace are forever, for all times.
Tell someone the good word this week, lend them a hand. Show them God’s love and share it with them. Help them with their lemonade. Shed some light for those in the dark. Remember this also, God truly loves each and every one of you, and so do I.
