Do you really love God? Do you really love others?
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [b]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [c]tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Jesus was a living example of God’s love, as we are to be a living example of Jesus love. What do people think about you? Are you an example of Christ like love? Do people see you arguing, jealous, and unforgiving? Do people see Jesus in you because you love one another? Love is more than just a warm feeling; it is an attitude that requires actions. How can we love others as Jesus loves us.
- By helping when it is not convenient
- By giving when it hurts
- By giving energy to others rather than ourselves
- By absorbing hurt from from others without complaining or fighting back.
This kind of love is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it and know you are empowered by a spirit of love. God’s kind of love is directed outward towards others not inward towards ourselves. It is impossible to do without God’s help. Give love while expecting nothing in return.
It is easy to say we love God when that love doesn’t count us anything more than weekly attendance at religious services. But the real test is what we do outside the four walls of the church. We cannot be saved by good deeds of service without faith in Christ, but our faith lacks sincerity if it does not reach out to others. To treat all person we encounter as if they are Jesus is no easy task. What we do for others demonstrates what we really think about Jesus; words to us to feed the hungry, give to the homeless a place to stay, look after the sick. Love must be sincere. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. When we have experienced God’s Grace we will want to pass it on to others.
