Gongs and Cymbals

Lately I have been doing a lot of walking and it has given me time to think and reflect on our world, God’s Word, and what roles I play. Currently so much in the world doesn’t seem to make sense. We get to see the spread of deceit and lies. We are quickly losing community in the big cities. And now it seems that selfishness dominates our society.

One day, as I walked, the beginning of first Corinthians, chapter 13, came to mind. The first verse reminded me that “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1, NLT).

Hmmmm… I guess without love our actions and words are like noise. We are void of meaning, and this is what we are beginning to see in our crazy world.

What About Veterans, the Homeless, the Elderly, and Children? 

As I write this, it is Veterans Day and a commercial reminded me that no one seems to be concerned about veterans. These fine men and women put their lives on the line to represent our country, our voice, and our passion. Why is it that we cannot do something as simple as to thank them, support them, and encourage them with words and actions that are drenched in the love of Jesus Christ?

What about the homeless? Do we allow them to become invisible in our eyes because they are not valuable to us? Each time we busy ourselves with our agendas and we pass them by, have we become clanging cymbals?

And what about the elderly that stay behind closed doors staring at a wall or a TV screen? The gong sounds loudly when we’re too busy working and pursuing our own desires. But what about the desire of God who wants to pour His love in them through us?

Lastly, we cannot forget the little children who look to us for direction and understanding of what the love of God is all about. Sometimes they reach out to us with open minds and hearts looking to us to receive God’s love. But do we simply pass them by? They too understand the sound of gongs in ways we cannot imagine. Perhaps this is one reason why our youth struggle with depression and anxiety.

Vessels Full of Love

I pray that we can breathe meaning into our world by becoming a vessel that is filled with God’s unconditional love. Then when we walk through each day we can spread His love in a world that needs love without boundaries.

With our words and actions, we can share the love of God with others. Without this love, our world becomes meaningless; we simply fill the air with gongs and cymbals. Oh Father, please use us to show the world your love.

Pamela Williams writes from Southern California.

If you liked this, you may also like Christians Today | Sharing God’s Love With Others 

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