what in the world are your words saying?

there is so much ugliness in this world

it comes to us naturally 

I see it everywhere

people throwing verbal punches

degrading one another

questioning other's intelligence or commitment to God

my heart aches

because sometimes those who are the most vicious love Jesus

they are people who serve in churches

they are people who fight for the homeless

they are people who rescue those caught in situations they cannot escape

and are quick to lend a helping hand to those in need

but are quicker still to bash believers who have a different political opinion

and I wonder, not for the first time,

"why would those who do not know Jesus want to know Him 

if this is the way we treat one another?"

the closer it gets to this election 

the more violent it seems to be getting

in the midst of it all

let's not lose sight of Whose we are

and how He expects us to treat one another

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

Galatians 5:13-15, 22-26