LENT 2021: LOVE
Some of the popular songs of my youthful years say things like, "all you need is love" and "what the world needs now is love, sweet love." But love's not easy. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. That goes against everything that seems natural - but, God's ways are not our ways, and Jesus and His disciples were described as turning the world upside down - because of their practice of love and obedience to God.
Imagine, if we truly practiced loving our enemies - the world would truly be a different place, in an extremely positive way. It really sounds too simple, doesn't it? But we are to try it as we grow spiritually to be more like Jesus..
Matthew 5:43-48 (NRSV) Love for Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Some of the popular songs of my youthful years say things like, "all you need is love" and "what the world needs now is love, sweet love." But love's not easy. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. That goes against everything that seems natural - but, God's ways are not our ways, and Jesus and His disciples were described as turning the world upside down - because of their practice of love and obedience to God.
Imagine, if we truly practiced loving our enemies - the world would truly be a different place, in an extremely positive way. It really sounds too simple, doesn't it? But we are to try it as we grow spiritually to be more like Jesus..
Matthew 5:43-48 (NRSV) Love for Enemies
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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