May each of us bring the light of love into the darkness.

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Along with the following reflection, please listen to my song “Mercy Reigns” and consider purchasing it on Amazon Music. Thank you!

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2 Timothy 1:8

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

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The gospel is the good news of God’s unconditional love for all.

The focus is to let this be known especially to the marginalized and the oppressed.

When people are not in tune with the gospel, when they are in a sense “unconscious” in that they are not aware of the Divine Reality of God’s love for all, they can do some horrendous things.

When such things happen, they can evoke more unconscious behavior such as revenge and all forms of hate.

Love is the only way to stop such a cycle.

Jesus looked upon people such as this from the cross and asked God to forgive them because “they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

We are now the only ones who can bring the healing and restorative message of God’s love to others.

That means we must be willing to leave our comfort zones and take the gospel to the people in need.

St. Paul knew the dangers of such actions.

It got him imprisoned and finally executed.

But his words and encouragement live on because the love of Christ cannot be defeated!

Each of us is being called to be a messenger of the good news and to bear our “share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.”

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

Stream and/or purchase the songs from my 4 albums on Amazon Music by clicking HERE.

Purchase my book “Mercy Reigns: A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing” on Amazon by clicking HERE.

Remember: God loves you!