There is a sweet saying going around that reads "God loves you, and there is nothing you can do about it."

While true, the saying leaves off a very important half the equation. See, the easy part is to acknowledge God loves you. The hard part is getting your head around the fact God loves everyone else as well.

That's the truth we don't want to hear, that's the truth the sweet little saying suggests (by implication) but neglects to highlight.

So here is the ultimate truth in its totality: God loves you and everyone else, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Our honored task as humans is to make that truth incarnate in our lives, thereby helping the Reign of Heaven break in now, right here on Earth. That is what religion and spirituality is supposed to be about.

As people of the loving God, we are supposed to incarnate God's love in life in the here and now.

For Christians, it is the way Jesus taught and continues to teach his followers. Jesus' life and death and resurrection empowers us to be Christ in the world to everyone we meet.

In this way (and there are others), we can matter much in the scheme of things.

What we do each day, each moment, does or does not bring more of God's love into our life and into the lives of all who encounter us. That is some power we have.

God pulls us, call us every moment to choose wisely and bring into the world God's love.

Religion tries to show us how to do this.

And, of course, no matter how we choose, God loves us and everyone else, and there is nothing we can do about it.

What we can do is bring that love to others.

The Rev. Scott Elliott is the pastor at Riviera United Church of Christ in Palm Bay. Visit Riviera UCC's website at rivieraucc.org.