Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7-8).

The Jefferson Barracks Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Mississippi River, reflects an architectural design called a tied arch. It’s a series of cables suspended from a massive arch that supports the bridge’s roadbed.

For the bridge to support the intended load, the cables must have a specific tension. To test that, each cable is plucked like a huge harp string to see if it has the proper resonance. Whether the bridge will hold is revealed by the tone the cable emits.

In a similar way, God’s hold on us is revealed by the tone of our hearts. When our hearts are tuned to God’s heart they resonate with his love for others.

Sometimes those heart strings are plucked harshly or unkindly by the actions of others, but the Christian heart reverberating with humble gratitude for Christ’s mercy still resonates with his grace.

A heart tied to God’s heart resonates with his love; a heart that does not cannot claim to know God. That may sound harsh, but God loves us enough to give the warning sounds of spiritual danger. If loveless tones have come from you recently, tether your heart again to the forgiving heart of Jesus.

Prayer:
Father, I pray that my heart will resonate with love and gratitude for what you have done for me in Christ. Help me to love when it is difficult, confirming Christ in me.