In life it’s delightful to live simply and share our gifts with others.  That’s how we can capture the dignity of living fulfilled lives.  Life is all about faithful service, and understanding differences in cultures.   We’ll love God more, and capture the truth about love.  Our affection will then become the basis of biblical promises to the world.  Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997), a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary said, “Let us meet each other with [a] smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.”  In simple ways people take cues from believers.

The Road in Life

By living godly lives there’s a surge of new life.  In their daily walk believers express this blessing.  Their demeanor shows the embodiment of the gifts of a merciful God.  This sort of love is effective for it brings about healing, doesn’t discriminate, nor makes distinctions.  It’s through such caring bridges are built in our world.  These are the visual signs of God working within and through us.  God’s love is nurturing and ever-watchful as we travel along our spiritual journey.  But there’s another way to determine love’s effectiveness.  Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–1968), a Baptist minister, and activist wrote, “A genuine leader is not a searcher of consensus but a molder of consensus.”  It’s for believers to meet people where they are, and bring them along the path of righteousness.   

 Kingdom of Life

It isn’t enough to be a lover of life, for such people may be selfish in their desires.  It’s unwise to be self-centered in living without God.  News about God mustn’t be buried, but proclaimed in building confidence in the world.  To know God’s glory people have to be creators in showing others love.  Ralph Ellison (1914–1994), a novelist and literary critic said, “If the word has the potency to revive and make us free, it has also the power to blind, imprison and destroy.”  There’s a difference between “worldly” and “spiritual” love.  Unlike “worldly love,” the “spiritual” enlightens our hearts and minds.

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), an Irish playwright, and novelist wrote, “Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and to do more.”  Believers could only attain these gifts through prayer and dedication to their communities.

 Being Compassionate

It’s best to be compassionate.  One of the ways that believers can accomplish this is by interacting with the people they encounter.  It’s the way we treat them that matters.  By being kind we share in God’s love to our colleagues.  Muhammad Ali (1942–2016), a former professional boxer said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”  If people believed they must serve as a way to pay back a debt, this world would be a better place.  They wouldn’t be so self-centered, but would see themselves as guardians on our planet.  To accomplish these goals mean we have to walk in love by serving others.