Matthew 5:43-48 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that 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. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
How perfect are we??? We strive for excellence in so many areas of our lives.
We pride ourselves on high standards and making good choices…yet we are far from perfect!.
In this passage Jesus calls us to perfection, "as our Heavenly Father is perfect", each example He gives is in relation to relationships…..
If our "Christianity" doesn’t have a positive effect or any effect on our relationships…
the people around us…
the ones we like and dislike….then maybe we are not Christians!
If we are perfect in every outward attempt and display but are not relating to those around us with the excellence and high standards of love that Christ lived by…then we are not Christ like!
Christ was about people. Christ is about relationships with others and relationship with His Father….everything else was secondary.
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
Love for Enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that 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. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
How perfect are we??? We strive for excellence in so many areas of our lives.
We pride ourselves on high standards and making good choices…yet we are far from perfect!.
In this passage Jesus calls us to perfection, "as our Heavenly Father is perfect", each example He gives is in relation to relationships…..
If our "Christianity" doesn’t have a positive effect or any effect on our relationships…
the people around us…
the ones we like and dislike….then maybe we are not Christians!
If we are perfect in every outward attempt and display but are not relating to those around us with the excellence and high standards of love that Christ lived by…then we are not Christ like!
Christ was about people. Christ is about relationships with others and relationship with His Father….everything else was secondary.
2 comments:
For a while now, I have thought of the word "love" in this way: Love ...
L -- the Lord
O -- each Other (Christians)
V -- eVeryone
E -- Enemies
“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Mt 22:37-40)
Spot on. Holiness, obey His commandments, is all wrapped up in love. For me that is such a release, but also a massive challenge...
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