Day 39: Howard Thurman - "Love Flowing In and Out"
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”
Introduction
Reverend Howard Thurman was a prolific author, minister and civil rights leader. He had many thoughts about the Christian life and how a Christian ought to conduct themself. One of his most influential works posed one, simple question: “What, then, is the word of the religion of Jesus to those who stand with their backs against the wall?” He challenged himself and others to think not only of heaven and the world after but the world we currently live in.
Love Flowing In and Out
Reverend Thurman had always had a proclivity for study as he graduated valedictorian of both his undergraduate and seminary schools. He was unquestionably a man who knew much about the Bible and theology. However, he was plagued with the idea that the American Christian of the time had grown comfortable with their own faith and idea of God and largely ignored the disenfranchised that lived around them.
He called to attention the examples of how Jesus would go out to these marginalized groups in society to share the love of God. Was the American Christian loving those around them? As God’s love flowed into them, was there an outflow of love to those in society who needed that love?
Reflection
As Christians, we are called to share the gospel with those around us. And one aspect of sharing that gospel is sharing God’s love. For Reverend Thurman, this was reflected in the numerous works he did for the Civil Rights movement. For us, this can take shape in a variety of ways but one place it can take place is right here in our church. Are there members of our church who may feel marginalized or need to be shown God’s love? Are there ways we can serve and minister to our church that God may be putting on your heart? Let us spend some time in reflection today in how God may be calling us to show His love in our church.