Weekly Inspiration - Voice of Love

A VOICE OF LOVE:
By Kendall Valenzuela

Love is typically defined as “the emotion of strong affection and personal attachment.” In philosophical
context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. In religious
context, love is not just a virtue, but the basis for all being ("God is love"), and the foundation for all
divine law. WHY IS LOVE SO IMPORTANT? It is important because Jesus said that all of the
commandments were given for two simple reasons- to help us love God and to help us love others as
we should.

As women, and followers of Christ, we are called to love God completely; and to seek living in union
with Him daily. Through our uniquely personal life journey, and our accepting of Christ as Savior, each
of us has experienced & encountered God’s unconditional love, grace and forgiveness. Every woman
(and man) has sinned, and has a story to tell.

Sadly, women are often known to be some of the most judgmental people on Earth. How often do you
personally pass judgment on others, without really knowing their “life story,” and without really thinking
that God has given you the commandment, as well as the blessing of opportunity, to be His voice of
unconditional love to them? Pause here for a moment, and truly reflect upon this… Then, mentally, fill
in the blank: I typically judge a person by___________. (Example: “… Their past or current failures and
transgressions, whether or not they have been kind & loving towards me ,whether or not they are walking
closely with God, the color of their skin, the color or style of their clothes and/or hair, the number of
tattoos on their body, the way they speak, the level of education they have obtained, the place they live,
the music to which they listen, the car they drive, the neighborhood in which they live, the job they have
or by the people with whom they choose to surround themselves.)

Christ chose to offer us salvation from sin, and to love us in spite of our shortcomings and failures. He
alone is the righteous judge of mankind (“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1). We
are called to extend the same grace, by non-judgmentally expressing God’s love and mercy to others.

Take a moment to read, and to think quietly about the significance of the encounter that took place
between Jesus and two criminals during His last moments here on Earth. This narrative is perhaps
one of the most touching examples of “A VOICE OF LOVE” in the entire Bible. While our Lord was
experiencing the physical, emotional and perhaps even spiritual agony of death on the cross, he still
expressed the divine nature of His love for man. He had the compassion to listen to the pleas of one who
had great need. He made the effort to repress his own pain, in order to answer the needs of a sinner.

Luke 23:32-43 (New International Version) 32Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with

him to be executed. 33When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with
the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not
know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35The people stood watching,
and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ
of God, the Chosen One." 36The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar
37and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." 38There was a written notice above him,
which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at
him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" 40But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear
God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? 41We are punished justly, for we are getting what
our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when
you come into your kingdom." 43Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in
paradise."

In the midst of his own suffering, Jesus reached out to offer love and forgiveness. The two other men,
whom were crucified on either side of Christ, were labeled as criminals in the eyes of society. Insults

We Love God & Others, Because He First Loved Us

were hurled by the local people, as these three hung to die upon crosses before them. Yet, one of the
criminals heard an opposing “voice of love,” uttered in the midst of all the insults, judgment and human
persecution.

"Father forgive them!" thus did He pray,
Even as His lifeblood flowed fast away;
Praying for sinners while in such woe -
No one but Jesus ever loved so.
- Avis Christiansen

This “criminal” on the cross next to Jesus was no different from you or me. He was a sinner, condemned
to die for his actions of wrong doing. (“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23) Jesus was…and still is…the ultimate role model for unconditional
love. We need to strive as women to not pass judgment upon others so flippantly, and to be more like
Christ. We need to actively seek out opportunities, as we encounter those in need of love and forgiveness,
whereby we can share the gift of salvation that God has so freely given to us.

You are being provided the opportunity to take Communion at this “Soul Station” today.

Before doing so, please take some time to pray and to seek God’s forgiveness personally in your heart and
life. Then, ask God to reveal those moments when you may have passed judgment unfairly upon another,
not forgiven, or for when you did not speak with a “VOICE OF LOVE” when the opportunity presented
itself. Ask the Lord to make you His “hands and feet;” and to give you a greater awareness of future
opportunities where you might be enabled to share God’s love and mercy more passionately & boldly,
while journeying through this precious life together as “brothers and sisters” in the Lord.

You may choose to find a place alone where you can close your eyes and silently speak and listen to
Him. Or, if you are more comfortable journaling your thoughts, you might wish to write them down
instead. Select a few passages from John (shown below) to read. Reflect quietly upon God’s amazing and
unlimited capacity to love all sinners, including you; give thanks that Jesus willingly sacrificed himself,
offering forgiveness & redemption to all mankind!

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John 3:16, John 4: 1-42, John 8, John 15:9-10, John 17:23, John 21:15-17

When you are ready, take the bread, hold it, and praise God for who He is.

“This is my body given for you, do this in remembrance of me.”

Then, dip the bread into the juice and thank Him for dying to take away your sins and for forgiving
you.

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

As you take Communion with Christ, know that He has appointed this exact moment in time… and
also know full well that He loves you more sincerely and deeply than anyone else ever has or will.