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The other day as I drove in to town I was amazed to see two eagles sitting side by side on a tree limb, almost as if they were mirror images of each other. I have always loved eagles and several times God has used them to speak something into my life. However, I have never seen two sitting so close to each other almost a perfect reflection of one another. As I thought about this through out the day I remembered hearing about how when an eagle molts it's flight feathers other eagles will bring it food and help care for it until it can fly again. It struck me that as a church we are called to to be like this. As believer's we are called to walk out the love of God. We can see this in 1 John 4:7-21
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister."
Another thing that came to mind when I saw those beautiful eagles is how amazing it is that they can see such long distances. Did you know that they can spot another eagle flying almost 50 miles away! Their vision is also designed to allow them to see at great heights. They can soar far above and see clearly any activity on the ground. God reminded me that I too have an aid to my vision, the Holy Spirit. If you are like me I sometimes get caught up in the hustle and bustle and I don't always slow down enough to be aware of those around me who need to experience some of God's love. It's not an intentional oversight as I would never want to bypass someone who is struggling but some times struggles are not always obvious. We need the Holy Spirit to expand our vision to truly see these opportunities to be the love of God for people.
As children of God we are called to 1) know the love of God and 2) live it out in the earth. There are many things that can distract us from loving others as we should. Family stress, work stress, health concerns, and just day to day life. We live in a society that is driven by pressure and intensity and this can cause us to look away from others who may need our love. So many times personal struggles, loss, disappointment and grief can drag people down and isolate them. As the church let us be "like Jesus". Let us ask the Holy Spirit to be our vision and let's be His love to those around us.