dwelling in the land…

Sitting on the patio of an international coffee chain… drinking decaf… working out words to share with sisters… I notice…

…a young woman… sunglasses… earbuds… journal… pen… open Bible… eyes closed… hands open to the heavens… listening for Him…

…then the group of three nearest me… I assumed they were business people… but then I heard the words… spiritual maturity… eavesdropping a little more intentionally… I realized they served a major denomination… working on faith issues… strengthening the church…

So at least three of the five tables being used on the porch… were those who belong to Him… seeking Him…

I find it amazing because I know… several years ago… the founder of this establishment refused to keep a commitment to speak at a Christian gathering… gave short notice… because of a difference in beliefs…

And I wonder what would happen if we… Believers… refused to visit his shops… because of the difference…

Let love be genuine. Abhor evil; hold fast to what is good.

Romans 12:9 ESV

Believers are called to abhor… hate evil… but genuinely love…

Love is the reason to be horrified by evil… because those who are deceived by evil… are only harming themselves… not just in the here and now… but for eternity…

There is a way to genuinely love all people… yet still hating evil…

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:1-4 ESV

So I dwell in the land… bringing faithfulness… to a place with good coffee… a low-carb snack choice… and free WiFi… despite the difference in core beliefs…

Loving people… involves recognizing their great endeavors… the ones which overlap with all that is good… even if they still dwell in the dark…

…shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life…

Philippians 2:15-16 ESV