Matthew 5:43-47...Greet Everyone with Love...

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The culture of our world today promotes us to hate things we don’t understand or people that we don’t like. You can find a story everyday about protest or boycotts that are simply a way to spew hatred toward someone or something. This is not the position that Jesus taught us and not the way that God intended for us live. Our thoughts and actions should emanate from the position of love and compassion. Jesus reached out to everyone with love and He sought to help everyone understand that God was the creator of that love. It is very easy to love those that love you but it is difficult to show that love to those that trouble you. Pray that God will give you the mindset and the heart to love those that seem to be your enemy and pray for those that you believe persecute you. Lift up everyone to God in love and kindness and pray for them.

Blessings,

Alan B Conner