by Andreas Tangen
"God is love"- 1 John 4:16b
Jesus Christ died for us, so that we could be set free from the bonds of sin, because He loves us. I so often fail to remember this. It's the most important part of God, and still, I fail to consistently see it. Because I am not able to steadily keep my eyes fixed on love; I don't show love to others. When in reality, I am just really not living in God himself, because God is love.
Every year that I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to Mexico, I always feel great love. Love for the people of Mexico, love for our group, love for myself, and love for God. We go down to Mexico to show God's love. But when we get there, we are the one's being shown love. We show love, the love of God, the love that is God, and it's reflected right back at us. It's truly a circle of love, always moving and never ending. God is love.
Andreas interacting with some children"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."-1 John 4:7-8
There's this thing that's called a "language barrier". It's not a barrier at all. Yeah, I guess it is in the sense that we can't have a real conversation with the people. But honestly, is it that hard to show love or feel loved? Would it be that much easier for you to show love if you could speak their language? For me, it wouldn't be. Of course it would be nice, but it's not a barrier, it's more like a pebble in the road. Love can be shown in music, games, object lessons, crafts, construction, and bible lessons. love is so broad, yet so simple.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."- 1 John 3:18
I want to love, because God is love. I want to show love because when we show love we are showing the face of God. I want to be used because He wants to use me. I want to go to Mexico to love and to be loved. That's why we go: to love. We go to be the face of God, the face of love.
"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."- 1 John 4:12
I really think showing love is the simplest form of showing God. But it can be really tough to do, especially in this day and age. I want to be a light of God by showing love to others.
That is what I take away from Mexico...
Andreas Tangen (17) went with Maple Park Church to Mexico with “Borderless”, March 25 - April 1, 2010
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