but perfect love casts out fear
1 John 4:18
It all begins with God’s love.
I began a "first ride" ministry with the youth in my church. When I learned of a youth working toward a driver's license, I told them I would consider it an honor to be the first person they would take for a ride. They could go wherever they chose, but I suggested having lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. I joked with them saying I had confidence in their driving, but if they killed me I would never talk to them again.
Each "first ride" was a little different. I probably would have driven at a different speed or used the brake pedal sooner or taken a curve differently. But this was not about driving skills.
It's all about showing God's love through trust and respect.
God’s love is not an abstract concept. God sent Jesus on earth to preach, teach and heal. Jesus touched the untouchable and welcomed the rejected. Jesus demonstrated God's love in action without boundaries. We don’t have to reach out to God or meet some sort of standard or worthiness in order to be loved.
Sometimes we can get stuck in life not knowing which way to go or what to do next. We may come across seemingly impossible boundaries or struggling to move forward from heartbreaking events.
When these times happen, I assure you, God's love is with you in what may feel like a "first ride". I know. I've been there.
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