There is a River
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48.
Loving your enemy. Loving someone who will not love you back is a big thing. Why should you love your enemy? For the Christian the answer is simple. Jesus told us to.
That being said there is a deeper reason for a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, to love your enemy. That is by showing them the Love of God that shines through you, you are pointing them in the direction of heaven.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Love is the key to the Christian life. Christian love started with God. Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
Martin Luther King jr. the American civil rights leader said,
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
There is a river that any believer must allow to flow through them. A river of Love. This river begins with God. Flows through the believer and out to those around them.
If we as believers in Christ Jesus do not allow this river to flow no one will ever come into a right relationship with God.
Please think about it.
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48.
Loving your enemy. Loving someone who will not love you back is a big thing. Why should you love your enemy? For the Christian the answer is simple. Jesus told us to.
That being said there is a deeper reason for a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, to love your enemy. That is by showing them the Love of God that shines through you, you are pointing them in the direction of heaven.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”1 Corinthians 13:1-3.
Love is the key to the Christian life. Christian love started with God. Jesus speaking of himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17.
Martin Luther King jr. the American civil rights leader said,
Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jesus when asked,"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40.
There is a river that any believer must allow to flow through them. A river of Love. This river begins with God. Flows through the believer and out to those around them.
If we as believers in Christ Jesus do not allow this river to flow no one will ever come into a right relationship with God.
Please think about it.
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