Serve One Another in Love no. 10

“You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor — and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Mattityahu (Mat) 5:43-48). If you ever want to know someone’s real character, then disagree with them on an issue they find important. It could be politics, government, economics, family, religion, or entertainment BUT disagree with someone about something they value and treasure to know how much they are capable of love. I think about how many folks disagreed with Jesus when He brought the message of His Kingdom to earth. I think about Paul standing before the Greeks in Athens continuing to preach the Good News. And I don’t see them getting angry and storming off. I don’t see them unfriending folks and blocking them. I don’t see them calling unbelievers names or accusing them of being heretics and condemning them to hell. I don’t see it because it is not there. And it is not what Jesus commands.

How you fight says a lot more about you than you think. When folks call me names anymore for not holding the same theology, same politics, same philosophy as them I can only laugh at their irritation because it isn’t important. I think a lot of folks have a really narrow view of God as looking for reasons to punish every one for every little thing. And that just either makes me sad or fills me with laughter. If I am free in Him then why am I afraid anymore. Sure, the beginning of knowledge is fear of God BUT that isn’t the end of understanding. We don’t just stop with being afraid of Him. We have to move forward into a relationship where we know more about Him.

I was talking Sunday about how we get comfortable with God and that I shouldn’t be the same Christian today I was ten years, ten months, or ten days ago because the relationship I have should be growing. And growing in relationship with God means moving forward in understanding of Him. And understanding His love is something I see more and more when I look back at The Bible. I don’t see a God always ready to judge BUT a God always ready to redeem and restore. He gives endless chances to His people. He only expects that we give that same type of love to our neighbors. And we give that love whether we agree with them or not. I don’t have to agree with you in order to treat you like an image bearer of Him. And that is what He expects and what He teaches. Be careful how you argue because it shows your heart.

Serve His Kingdom by serving one another in love.

Grace and Shalom to your home. The Kingdom of God is now!

I love you. I forgive you. Have a blessed and abundant day!

#ThinkBetter #BeBetter #NoKingButChrist #EmbraceTheWithin #SeekFirstTheKingdom #ServeOneAnotherIn Love #NotMyWayYHWH