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? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. (Matt 5:43-48)
Our sinful nature makes this passage very hard. We don't like to love and care for those who mistreat us. Jesus commands His followers to love as He loved, even our enemies and those that despitefully use us. This love goes beyond a casual forgetfulness or forgiveness, even where that occurs, but to an actual expression of good toward those that are not good to us. We don't like to love like that, and many times it must be GOD in us to do it, for our flesh gets in the way. If it was easy anybody could do it, but GOD in us, will accomplish His work, and we will bear the fruit of His Spirit that He produces in and through us.
For His church, that means going out to witness, and minister, to even those who have rejected us, for it is not really us that they have rejected but Christ. It may mean facing those who, because they are mad at a GOD they don't even believe in, are hateful and seek to challenge our beliefs. It can mean being kind and expressing the love of GOD to the unlovable, and spiteful, so that they can see the love of GOD with skin on.
We are His ambassadors, and we are to be like Him, even as He is working in us to conform us to the image of His dear Son. We are to disciple one another in love so that others will see that we are His disciples. We are to minister to the hurting and in need so that they see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. As we go, we are to preach Christ and Him crucified, so that those who believe the Gospel and place their faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary may be saved and have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
For His church, that means going out to witness, and minister, to even those who have rejected us, for it is not really us that they have rejected but Christ. It may mean facing those who, because they are mad at a GOD they don't even believe in, are hateful and seek to challenge our beliefs. It can mean being kind and expressing the love of GOD to the unlovable, and spiteful, so that they can see the love of GOD with skin on.
We are His ambassadors, and we are to be like Him, even as He is working in us to conform us to the image of His dear Son. We are to disciple one another in love so that others will see that we are His disciples. We are to minister to the hurting and in need so that they see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. As we go, we are to preach Christ and Him crucified, so that those who believe the Gospel and place their faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary may be saved and have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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