The Vandalized Stop Sign

"My command is this:  Love each other as I have loved you."  John 15:12

I'm pretty sure it's against the law to vandalize a stop sign.  But I noticed the spray paint job someone did on the sign in our neighborhood and thought to myself, "Well, that is a good point!".  The sign's message, with a little help, was simple, yet powerful:  "Stop Hatin'"

There really is a lot of hate in our world, isn't there?!  It manifests itself in cruelty, bitterness, prejudice, and abuse.  And it seems to pop up its head about anywhere we look.

In the Bible, we learn that these are the two most important things we can do:  Love God and love people.  (To read the scripture that teaches this, just click HERE .)

The vandalized stop sign is right.  We must stop the hate that hurts our world.  It's time for love to prevail!  And we who have a relationship with the loving God of the universe must lead the way.  God is love, and He enables us to love others the way we should.  So let's fill the world with that amazing love that comes from above. 

We can disagree with people and still be loving.  We can hold people accountable and still be loving.  Love does not mean we will see eye to eye on everything or we can allow everyone to do whatever they want without any consequences.  That's not the point at all.   Loving people means we see the value of people because they are creations of God, and we treat them right.  It further means we deal with others how we would want them to deal with us.

Let's allow God to help us love the way we should today.  This world is stuffed full of hurting, lonely people.  So it's up to you and me to love them how God loves us.