Tonight, I just wanted to share a piece of whats been on my heart. And I truly want to get better at this blogging thing, since I just noticed I haven't blogged since March! So much to tell, and so little time. I am committing to get better.
Luke 6:27-36 has been on my heart lately. Quite a bit. Here is the Scripture:
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
In the Christian culture it is said "love your enemies" - and everyone says it like its the simplest thing to do. It is not. Doing good to those who hate you, blessing those who curse you, and praying for those who mistreat you are definitely not the easiest things - at least not in my book.
For a long time now, Jesus has been teaching me how to love other people. And I mean it - love. Not just tolerate or put up with but - L-O-V-E.
Our lives speak volumes to those around us. If we begin to show others the love that Christ has for us, what a testimony that will be to others about Jesus.
People don't want to often times listen to our words (take it from someone who makes public attempts at evangalization) - BUT - they can't help but gaze at our actions. I say that with the intent of keeping Jesus at the forefront of everything we do.
Challenge: try loving your enemies. Really loving them. Not out of self righteousness, not out of pity, or expecting anything in return...just genuine, heart-felt love.
I will post soon - much to tell about YATEC! (Young Adults Together Encountering Christ)
In His name,
Samantha
Very well said and written again Sam. I told my youth leader's wife about you & your blog and she is interested to read about what you say. That reminds me, I have to send her your blog's link.
ReplyDeleteSo very true! Truly loving anyone isn't so easy even those who do nothing but good for you, much less loving your enemies! Thanks for posting something that so many simply over look or pretend to not deal with.
ReplyDeleteSo amazingly put. I especially like the line, "People don't often times listen to our words but they can't help but gaze at our actions." The best way to spread the great joys of His Kingdom is not through the words we say, but through our loving actions that we show onto others. People will not listen unless they know that you care. So I agree, love your enemies full heartedly and forgive those who have ever done you wrong, for when you do so you will experience the joy of His Great Kingdom.
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