February 24, 2012
The Inspiring Power of Love
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5:43-46
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 6:26-31
Quote of the Day
“Where there is great love there are always miracles.” – Willa Cather
Today’s Thoughts and Insights
Have you ever noticed that some people are just easier to love than others?
It is a whole lot easier to love someone who has nothing but good things to say about you and who always seems to agree with everything you say.
But then there is that individual who seems to be able to find not only your last nerve, but they seem to have a propensity for jumping up and down on it. That individual is sometimes more of a challenge to love.
What about that person who has chosen a pathway in life that demonstrates the direct opposite to everything you believe and hold dear? Aren’t those types of folks often hard to love?
Then of course there are those who are so fake and phony and their insincerity is transparent and their blatant dishonesty is so apparent: they most certainly are hard to love.
Yet all these folks, just like us are sinners that Jesus died for. And they, just like us before Jesus washed away our sins are dying and in need of someone to love them enough to tell them and show them what Christian love is all about and how Jesus is the only way and the only hope they have to make their lives better.
God loved us while we were still repulsively covered by sins and while our life is filled with all those things, which He abhors and detests. So then, if He loved us while we were in that state – do we have any right not to love others?
Sometimes it’s the sinner lost and undone and sometimes it’s the brother or sister who just hasn’t grown to a place in their spiritual life that they have learned the importance of loving God with all that they are and loving others with the love with which they have been loved: yet if we can but be a catalyst to begin a movement to show the world that what is needed is love and more of it and if we can emulate and imitate the Godly love which we receive each day to others, I think we could really make a difference in this world.
Today’s Prayer
Father, you’re loving beyond comprehension; your amazing beyond description and I desire to honor and worship you in spirit and in truth. But in order to truly worship I need to love all folks equally, and not just those who make it easy. So help me to love every soul and every sinner as much as you love me.
“Where there’s love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.”
- Ella Fitzgerald
“Word of God speak, pour down like rain…”
- from ‘Word of God Speak’ by Mercy Me
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