“You have heard that it was said, You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you so that you will be acting as children of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing? Don’t even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly Father is complete in showing love to everyone, so also you must be complete. (Matthew 5:43-48, CEB)
You have heard it said. This is Jesus telling you that what you are doing is not enough. Everyone loves those who love them and hate and despise those who think, look, and act differently from them. What sets followers of Jesus apart from others?
They will know we are followers of Jesus by our:
Telling others loudly that they are sinners?
Pointing out the way others live that does not fit our understanding?
Making sure people see us give to charity?
Forcing people to live the way we think they should live?
No. None of these things show that we know who God is or that God is living in our lives.
Love. Love for all.
We need to love like Jesus.
aSacredRebel 