Love One Another

by Luke Bower

The other day, I overheard someone talking about how they enjoy buying things online. They even observed that as soon as the drone delivery system is perfected, they won’t have to interact with the UPS person. It seems that more and more stores are moving in this direction. Have you noticed that our society is becoming increasingly isolated from each other? You no longer have to go to department stores; just order what you want online. You don’t have to talk to anyone at the grocery store; with self-checkout lanes, you don’t even have to talk to a cashier. From drive-through windows to internet shopping, it’s all designed to make our lives easier, but it’s also taking away our interaction with each other.

Unfortunately, many of us apply this same attitude to the church. We slip in, talking to as few people as possible. We find that a pew allows for a quick getaway, and as soon as the closing prayer is over (or maybe while the invitation is being sung), we make our dash to the car. I heard a quote that seems to capture this attitude:

To live above with those we love,
Now that is grace and glory.
To live below with those we know,
Now that’s a different story!

One of the greatest commands God gave us is to love one another. How can we do that if we refuse to interact with each other? How can our good works be a light to the world if the world can’t see them? How can we encourage one another without physical interaction? It isn’t always convenient and may involve stepping out of our comfort zones, but we need to slow down and share our lives with others. Talk to the cashier at the store. Speak to others before and after church. Let’s love one another and let our lives be a light to those we meet!