Well....one never knows what is in store for a day. My daughter woke up will the slap face measles this morning. These are not serious but the when I got to work my pastor's son who is 4 had a seizure this morning so I am asking your prayers for him this morning as of know that he is at the hospital getting tests run.
This mornings devotion in my opinion is one of the hardest for mankind in general. Why is it so hard to love others????
LUKEWARM PEOPLE love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is little left over for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?" Matt. 5:43-47
"Then Jesus said to his host. 'When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'"
The answer to my first question "Why is so hard to love others?" is pretty simple...selfishness. Again I took a kick in the pants this morning!!. It is as the Word puts it very easy to love those who love us back...Church we have got to show our love to those who are hard to love. This is the way we show the love of Jesus!!! When we read our Bibles Jesus is our example. I mean think about it, outside his disciples who did Jesus gravitate to??? Those very people who were mentioned above..the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ect, we should be of the same mind of Christ. We must help meet the needs of these folks and thus show our love for them. Showing love for others is not just for those whio are in great need it may be just showing our neighbor who has it all the simple love of Christ through kindness and humility. As I was writing this morning a thought popped in my head. What if for our child's next birthday we invited not only their friends but also those kids who are not invited to anything or may have handicaps. What a great example we could set for our kids and their friends but also we will be being obiedient to Christ.
Loving our enemies is overwhelming but it is commanded by God and shows our enemies how great our God is because onlt through Him can we show love for those who hate us. Something to chew on for awhile. Look at the picture can you show love to this person???
Have a great day everyone and see you tomorrow
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