Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
“Love is an excellent thing, a very great blessing, indeed. It makes every difficulty easy, and bears all wrongs with equanimity. For it bears a burden without being weighted and renders sweet all that is bitter. The noble love of Jesus spurs to great deeds and excites longing for that which is more perfect. Love tends upward; it will not be held down by anything low. Love wishes to be free and estranged from all worldly affections, lest its inward sight be obstructed, lest it be entangled in any temporal interest and overcome by adversity.”
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471) in “The Wonderful Effect of Divine Love” in Imitation of Christ (Wheaton: Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 1998) 68.
This is the last reading that came to mind with “divine” in the title. Tomorrow I think I will return to my exploration of compassion from a fresh angle of view.
The divine and noble love of Christ spurs us to great deeds. What is God calling you to do today, or this week? For me it was join the Home Owner’s Association board to show love and service to my neighbors. What about you?
The love of Christ also wants us to be “free and estranged from all worldly affections.” Are you free? List the things that distract you or keep you from pursuing Christ in your everyday life.
If we are “entangled in any temporal interest” we can be “overcome by adversity.” That includes COVID-19. We must not be overcome by the evil and brokenness in this world but overcome it with good.
We’ve got this. God’s got us.