Sunday 29 June, 2014

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:18) Hate your enemy.’ 44 But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. 45 Then you will be sons of your Father who is in heaven. “He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t. 46 “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that. 47 If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that. 48 So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Love your enemy. Not an easy thing to hear or to do. But it’s not just your enemy, it’s the slightly annoying person and the person who only takes from us. God wants us to bring His love to everyone we meet. I know for me that is quite challenging. I don’t know how to love everyone. Knowing what God means by love is one step in understanding how to live this out. Remembering what God means in all our encounters. Treating everyone we meet with respect, grace, mercy and kindness – that is the basis of bringing God’s love to all.

Thanks Lord that You love each of us with an amazing love and that means You treat us with respect, grace, mercy and kindness. Help us to remember how You feel about us so that we can treat those we encounter the same way. Give us a clearer picture of what being loved by You means so that we can share it better.

Written by Therese Manning