Day 196- Thankful for Lessons from H2O

Since my youngest son started studying premed, we have had quite a few random discussions about science.

Today he mentioned that

hydrogen and oxygen are highly flammable gases, but joined together in a ratio of two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom, they make a substance that extinguishes fire. (H2O = water)

He explained a little of the science, which is that the positive end of the hydrogen atom interacts with the negative end of the oxygen atom. I also found out that each water molecule is bent, which enables hydrogen from one water molecule to attach to oxygen from another water molecule.

Figure 1. A hydrogen bond in water occurs between the hydrogen atom of one water molecule and the lone pair of electrons on an oxygen atom of a neighboring water molecule. *

*Lumen Chemistry for Non-Majors

This got me thinking about how God brings together people who are very different from each other, whether in friendships, relationships, the church, our jobs, or our communities. 

The different ways that we see things can cause conversations to become quite explosive, but God has provided a bond called LOVE that cools down the heat and creates a totally new substance, a unified team, as it were.  This new team can then put out fires through the power of love instead of adding to them. 

What is needed is for each of us to choose to love those who are different from us, whether it be a spouse, another family member, a neighbor, a friend, a church member, or some other acquaintance.

For those of us who are in relationship with God, He provides us the same love with which He loves us so we can love others.  He will help us to love others when we walk in close relationship with Him.

“So, my loved ones, if God loved us so sacrificially, surely we should love one another.”  1 John 4:11  VOICE

“Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].”  1 Peter 4:8  AMP

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  John 15:12  ESV

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,”  Galatians 5:22  KJV

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:4-7  ESV

“that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in love,”  Colossians 2:2  RSV

Today I’m thankful for lessons from H20. 

I’m thankful that even when we come from different backgrounds, the love of God in us can unite us, knitting our hearts together into something beautiful. 

I’m thankful that God’s water of love and truth is able to extinguish all the fires that the devil has ignited in the hearts of humankind.

What about you?  Have you experienced the unity that love brings?  Have you experienced the love of God for yourself?  What do you see in the above verses that can help you in the coming days?