SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:38-48
OBSERVATION:
If I want to be like Jesus, Who is like God, then I need to determine to show this kind of love. To be more interested in showing grace than demanding justice. To be quick to serve, to forgive, and to help out my enemy. This is the way God’s new world works, the way of the kingdom of Jesus. The world is full of people who will help those they like, or who do something in return. But the way of Jesus, the way of the Christ-follower, is to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgiveable, show mercy to the unmerciful, show justice to the unjust. Go the extra mile, says Jesus. This may seem tough, but this is the full (complete, perfect) life that we were created for, that we are saved for. Those who do not strive for this (myself included) reveal that we do no yet understand God’s amazing grace shown to us, and that we do not understand the meaning of salvation (see 2 Peter 1:5-9).
APPLICATION:
How badly do I want to be like this? How prepared am I to absorb a slight, to ignore an injustice, to forgive an abuser? How open am I to the fact that I am no better or more deserving of mercy than these “bad” people, and that if God gave me what I deserved, I would not be forgiven either. It is only as we apreciate HOW GREAT the love and mercy of God is for us, that we are able to turn around and show it to others. We love because God first loved us; but if we do not love, that shows that we have not truly experienced the love of God. Harsh words, but this is what John makes plain (1 John 4:7-21).
PRAYER:
Lord, I am not able to overcome my feelings and hurts by myself. I still battle within myself to protect myself by attacking my enemies. Forgive me and help me to have a changed heart, to have Your heart towards other sinners, who like me NEED mercy, grace and love. Amen.
Be a Sonseeker in all that you do each and every day. I need to place God first in all the things I do and say. Then it will be possible for me to live what His Word states – as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men. When I do this, then my desires will be replaced with what God desires of me. That’s a tall order. But with His help and guidance and encouragement through His Spirit I will be able to resist my first instincts for retribution and personal needs – MEism. Being a Sonseeker means that I must seek the values of His Kingdom and live the life of His love within me each and every day – the JOY principle – JesusOthersYourself.
Help me each day to live for Jesus – being a living letter in what I do and say.
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowèd be Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the kingdom
And the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.