Love - ADVENTure 12
24 DAILY REFLECTIONS ON MISSION WITH THE LIGHTWAVE COMMUNITY
In this is love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4.10
At the start of the Covid19 Pandemic, a small group of Christian leaders had just begun reaching out in Red Lodge in Suffolk - an area where there was both new housing and social need. They, recognised that the community café they had just begun was no longer going to be a good way of loving their neighbour. Instead, they began to respond to requests for help. They recognised that delays in getting deliveries of food or medicine was very worrying for many and as they prayed, felt called to respond to each request within 12 hours. This was costly to members of the small team – a real sacrifice for them.
Maxine (pictured right), who had started to help out at the Lightwave café, found herself full of wonder at the level of service and care. She became one of the team’s Covid volunteers. Later, she said of this time: “People were saying we were angels. I’d never been religious and I’ve always volunteered in various places – but I’d never found fulfilment in it before. When I found faith in God, I started doing it for Him and it’s all about love.”
When Jesus poured out his love for us on the cross, it was a love so complete that we have never seen the like of it anywhere else. We are continually relearning that receiving this love is completely transformative. It is this cross-shaped sacrificial love that he pours into our hearts by the Holy Spirit and that we are called to share.
Lord Jesus , make us channels of your remarkable cross-shaped love. Amen.
