What the world needs now is love, sweet love

Processing 1 Peter 2:13-17

As I was reading and processing these verses from 1 Peter, a song from the 60's started playing in my head. The song? 

"What the world needs now is love."  

Just in case you weren't alive in the 60's, there was a lot of tension, rioting, and disunity here in the good ole USA.  Much needed to change, frustrations were high, and many took to the streets. Peaceful protests quickly turned violent.  I cannot even imagine what that very volatile time would have been like had social media been thrown into the mix.

The scenes from the 60's were much like the ones we've witnessed the last several years.  This past weekend, we watched as a protest in Charlottesville, VA turned violent.  Since then, we've listened to the news commentate, politicians proclaim and much ranting and raving via social media. I sit in sadness and horror as I listen, read and watch and I wonder, "Lord, what do I do?"  "What can I do?"

As the Lord would have it, I am currently studying 1 Peter and the answers to my questions were waiting for me as I opened my Bible this week.  Love it!

God used 1 Peter 2 to remind me that I do "something" by doing what is right (a/k/a/ good deeds).  I am to keep my behavior excellent. What did excellent behavior look like then and what does it look like here and now?  According to God, excellent behavior looks like:

• Submitting to authorities
• Honoring all people

There is more - so much more, but these two behaviors, in light of what's going on in the US, really hit home. I understand we live in a post-Christian culture, but a Christian call to action - to keep our behavior excellent - can make a difference!  I believe this because God says that in doing right, we silence the ignorance of foolish men.  In doing right.  Not in taking to social media to rant, rave and blast our authorities or give our opinions on the political and social climate.  But to do good works.  We keep our behavior excellent for the Lord's sake and because it glorifies Him and silences the foolish.  These are powerful motivators for us to answer this call to action.

What the world needs now is love sweet love. What could love, sweet love, look like today? Honor all people.  Yep, some love sweet love the world needs now.

Photo: Washington Post