Four Little Girls

The picture above is of four little girls--two sets of sisters--who only met about an hour prior to this picture. There are four little pairs of arms here, entangled in the tightest of embraces as they prepare to part company. It is no wonder that Christ said that the kingdom of heaven will belong to "such as these."

It follows, then, that the kingdom of heaven won't belong to those who are NOT "such as these."

Children love almost unconditionally. They don't pick and choose who they will love; for the most part, they love everyone. Unfortunately and quite sadly, that quality leaves many people as they grow into adulthood. Love, for some people, becomes a very selfish emotion. They only "love" when it will get them something (usually material) from someone. Being so conditional, it is offered and rescinded so often that the recipient cannot keep up with whether this is an "on" day or "off" day.

When I saw the picture above in a group of shots that was taken last Sunday night, the words of I John 4 and the song taken from it--"The Greatest Command" immediately came to mind.

"Love one another,
For love is of God.
He who's born of God knows God and loves God.
He who does not love, is not born of God.
For God is love, God is love...."

There are a lot of people wearing the name of Christ who do not love. Look at those four little girls up there, then read I John 4 and I Corinthians 13. Those who can go "worship" with some that they cannot bring themselves to speak to, much less love, are certainly an enigma to me.

"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. " Matthew 5: 23-24