June 8, 2026:

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.^‘ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” (Genesis 6.7-8)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

Love is a blessing. True love is a blessing, let’s put it that way. What some people call love is not true love at all. The list of names that can be found under “self love” is a tragic list which includes: lust, pornography, sex trafficking, domineering, prejudice, hatred, judgmentalism and a whole list of crimes too numerous to include here in this reflection. These are not the attributes and consequences of true love. Jesus demonstrated for the disciples and the world what true love actually was. He was the living definition of God’s true love. Sadly, in the midst of His demonstrations there were many and continue to be many who simply refuse to be truly loving. Without such love, however, all see we that is beautiful and good would not exist. Life as we sometimes know it to be kind, gentle, encouraging, supportive, peaceful and more are the glimpses of true love. All the rest is a poor imitation and disruption of what God fully and truly intended. I am not sure why it is so difficult for people to see the difference. Perhaps it is because the desire for self-love becomes so great it blinds us to what true love actually is and can do. Jesus knew this and called His disciples all and who would believe in His teaching on righteousness to “love one another as the Father has loved you and love your enemies.” Such humbling and sacrificial love seems counterintuitive to the broken human heart, mind, body and spirit. We become so consumed with what we want to be given in our brokenness that we forget it is in the giving of what we have that brings healing and builds up a godly community.

I believe this is the heart of that “but, Noah…” we read in Genesis 6. If not for the love of God and His commitment to let love reign, then the story as we have it from beginning to end would not exist. And, neither would we. That “but, …” is a recognition of God’s desire to never give up on that which He started. Paul wrote to the community of faith in Philippi, “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1.6) It is the same consistent sentiment from the very beginning of all creation. God has started a work and it will find its completion in the work of Jesus Christ. It is foolishness to think that God’s creating will ever be completed in total. The Sabbath day rest does not mean “the end.” It truly means a rest and recovery for the work that is ahead. God was anticipating the road before humankind. He knew that there were many things that had to happen yet for humanity to find themselves whole and complete in the midst of God’s love. The effort is made easier when “true love” is the aim of the Creator and the created. Without such love, as I said before, then all that we see and know would not exist in any way, shape or form. The earth would still be in chaos. That chaos is exhibited on a daily basis, sadly, because “love does not abide in everyone.” I do believe the need and call for love does exist in everyone. It, as with our salvation, is a true “given.” The matter is whether we desire to receive it and put ownership to it. As we do, we move closer to our completion and ready for the next work for which we are being prepared to accomplish for His glory.

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.