My emotions are in overdrive today. It’s just too much. Another mass shooting. This one in Las Vegas. Lately, I’m finding myself speechless at the senseless acts taking place around me. There’s so much hatred at every turn. By now, one would assume we would have learned to agree to disagree without verbally or physically accosting someone (I’m not necessarily referring to the Las Vegas issue as things are still under investigation—I’m making a general statement). While I’m unsure of the exact reason for this particular tragedy, there’s no doubt it was hate related. How else could any sane person take another life? While there has always been an undercurrent of hatred in our world, the past few years have seen an uprising of intolerance for other nationalities, races, religions, and more. One group blames it on the President, another blames it on gun control, the right wing likes to blame the left wing, and vice versa. Have they not realized we’re all a part of the same bird, if you will? We’re all sharing this big earth together. I may not agree with the beliefs of the Muslim down the street but you will never find me purposing to disrespect him/her. It’s not my place to dictate anyone’s religious choices. As a believer, my goal should be to live my life as a testimony of the loving God I serve. We’re always quick to point the finger but slow to offer a valid and intelligent suggestion on how to deal with the issues at hand. Standing at the root of it all is the enemy, the true author of confusion. A Christian’s response to the Las Vegas shooting and the horrors surrounding us must be different from that of the world.

As a child, I remember singing a little song in Sunday School, “This little light of mine….I’m gonna let it shine…” I question every believer in this moment, are you letting your light shine today? News flash: THE WORLD DOESN’T NEED OUR OPINIONS…..THEY NEED OUR GOD! Rather than complain about the hatred going on around us, we should show the world how to love. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” [Mark 12:30-31] Rather than use our personal platform of Twitter, FB, and more to tout our disdain of the President, homosexuals, the KKK, and other groups (again, I’m referring to a broad spectrum of issues right now), we should show the importance in power of prayer. “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” [2 Chron 7:14] The world needs Jesus! Plain and simple. Will they see Jesus in you/me? I hope so. He was God before we were breathed into existence and He will continue to be God long after we’ve left this earth. Don’t lean on the temporal things of this world. If you do, you will be greatly disappointed. He is the solid foundation in a world filled with quick sand.

Closing remarks and encouragement: I realize we’re all reeling from the massive amount of sin running rampant in our world. It’s time we believers step up and fight the enemy! Not in our own strength and abilities, but with the strength that can only come from above. We must stop placing our attention on the faces that are in front of us. As believers, our battle isn’t again flesh and blood! Let’s aim our arrows at the real enemy and FIRE AWAY! Suit up men/women of God!!
I’m praying for you, my friends! Don’t lose hope! This is the time to let the light of His love shine in the darkness!