There are so many times when what I am studying or thinking about in terms of my spiritual walk coincides with something else that is happening in life or in world events...things that reinforce lessons God wants to teach me from His word if I am aware and seeking His wisdom.  I had been semi-studying about Sodom and Gommorah this week since Brad was going to be preaching on passages from the account this morning.  I did that so that he and I could talk about it as he was wading through some pretty heavy issues and considering conclusions that are often drawn from this portion of scripture.  I didn't even know about the news of the mass shooting in the LGBTQ+ nightclub until later today.  I am grieved by this tragedy.

Regardless of any beliefs or convictions on moral issues, how to stand up for what is Godly, how to voice truth into our culture...there is never a righteous answer found in hate and violence like this.  Love is the only way we have been given to see transformation and redemption come into our world and I so wish and pray that all human beings could grasp on to that fundamental beginning.  Love doesn't have to be an acceptance of everything or agreement in everything, but it is a respect for humanity....it is a valuing of human life and of relationships...in action, it puts others before self.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood....so don't allow yourself to hate people...not LGBTQ+, not "homophobes", not this mass shooter, not ISIS...see what I am saying?  This is tough, but this is where we are messed up and a big part of why we spiral into darkness.  When we pray, we have to pray against the principalities of darkness and evil and for the glory of God to awaken in the hearts and lives of men by the work of the Holy Spirit....for chains of sin to be broken through repentance and surrender, for people to use their freedom to seek after what is good and right.  But what we do...our duty is JUST LOVE....love unconditionally because those are the moments that wake people...those are the "why would you love me?" moments where we might be given an opportunity to speak life to a listening ear by sharing Christ.