Here I am, in Tel Aviv, Israel. I never had imagined this country would be so pretty, physically. As I stepped outside the airport to take my first glance of this country, I could not even believe what I saw. Palm trees, a blue sky and not a cloud in the sky. My first impression was surely a nice one. The team and I, a total of 16 people, crammed into taxi vans with our luggage and began our one month journey in Israel.
If I have noticed one thing so far, it is that most Israeli people are prickly on the outside, but soft on the inside. Your average Israeli Jew would refer to his or herself as a "sabra," which a common prickly pear cactus in Israel. It might be easy to get offended by the response or tone of an Israeli, provided you asked some sort of question. Nonetheless, aren't we called to love? God says this to Israel:
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." Jeremiah 31:3
And Jesus, this:
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
The bible tells us time and time again to love, and that theme can never be exhausted. Love really is that important, for God is love. Jesus spent his life loving while the majority never loved him back. If we want to call ourselves disciples, we must love as he did and still does today.
Yesterday, while walking back to our hostel, a few friends and I decided to buy some fresh bread and guava to eat on our way. We all thought it a smart idea to sit and eat, as it was 99 degrees outside. Sitting beside us was a young African man who appeared to be on a break from work. I offered him a guava and he graciously ate it. We never spoke to the man other than our simple curiosity of where he was from and why he was in Israel. Then he took a second guava. We waved goodbye and continued on to our hostel.
My prayer is that this simple gesture of generosity would go a long way. It might seem small, but it is love. Too many times I find myself doubting the power of the Holy Spirit. But, as we are obedient in practical things, God will take care of the rest. He is God. I, of course, am not.
Today we traveled to Jerusalem, Israel. This is quite the place, let me tell you. I am overwhelmed with excitement.
