Have You Noticed?

In case that fine print is too faint to read, it says:  "And will be reported to the authorities." And what will happen if we didn’t notice the new notice?

Shared by a friend, I do not know where this sign was posted, but there are times when life makes as much sense as this sign. Those times when we say "What possible difference could it make if (fill in the blank.)"

There are some things that change over simple incidents that most people do not notice.  A policewoman’s slap to a peddler – how many noticed that?  Not enough to make a difference, but it made a difference to the Tunisian fruit peddler, enough for him to self-immolate. That got noticed.  Tunisia noticed, Egypt noticed, Yemen noticed, Bahrain noticed, Libya and the ripples move onward.

We cannot know how far the ripples will move when we act.  All move forward slightly, perhaps going unnoticed. Others become waves that overpower, and become noticed for changes made.

While Jesus’ words and actions were noticed by thousands, not until Barnabas and Saul were in Antioch for a year did this movement get a name.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:26 KJV)

Christ’s followers have had many names since, a good many of them pejoratives.  They were noticed, either for the good they did in His name, or for the evil they brought upon it.  Not all who call themselves Christian are.  Thanks be to God, He has told us what a Christian should be.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35 KJV)

John got the message, and wrote of it again in a book filled with the message of love:

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 John 4:10-11 KJV)

While it is very important to us individually whether or not we love God, the great thing to be noticed is that He loved us, and when He did so. John goes on to tell us when:

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

Before we recognized Him.  Before we knew His love for us.  Before we heard His commandments.  Before we loved Him.  He loved us.

Have you noticed?