The Law of Love
One of my favorites things about getting to know Christ personally is when he convicts me of things that are not like Him! Some people HATE to be convicted and called out on things, but how else are we supposed to grow as Christians if we're never convicted and challenged? Last night I was in my word spending quality time with God. I was reading the book of Luke and was in the sixth chapter when I was convicted. Luke 6: 27-36 talks about The Law of Love or Love for Enemies depending on your bible translation! This is the NIV version:
Immediately after I read this I thought of a quote that I hear often and had even recited before, myself! Have you ever heard/seen someone quote "I don't have time to hate those who hate me because I'm too busy loving those who love me!"? This is the mentality of SO many people and a great number of those people are Christians! Christ tells us that even sinners love those who love them, so by being "busy loving those who love me" what is the distinction between myself and non-believers? There is none! Christ doesn't pat us on the back for loving those who are nice to us! That's an effortless task! Our Heavenly Father rewards us for loving those who DON'T love us or treat us fairly! He challenges us as His people to love our enemies and pray for them instead of talk about them, and to lend a helping hand without looking for ANYTHING in return! It's a good thing to not make time to hate our enemies, but God commands us to make time to love our enemies and lift them up in prayer no matter what they do to us!
In the thirty-fifth verse of Luke 6, Christ assures us that our reward will be great and we will be considered children of the most high because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. He tells us to be merciful towards people because our Father is merciful towards us every single day! If we're unforgiving and rude to people who don't treat us respectfully then we're not much different from non-believers at all and most importantly, we're not honoring God by keeping his commandments. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this is something that I've mastered, because I have not!! I was convicted last night because I know I'm guilty of having that ungodly mindset. But I serve a master who can help us perfect our hearts and love the way He's called us to love! Go before the Lord and ask for His help, let Him wreck your heart so that you see the things inside of you that are not Christ-like! Let's strive to honor God in ALL of our ways so that our reward will be great and most of all, we'll please our Father! :)
You're so loved,
Erica Xx
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Immediately after I read this I thought of a quote that I hear often and had even recited before, myself! Have you ever heard/seen someone quote "I don't have time to hate those who hate me because I'm too busy loving those who love me!"? This is the mentality of SO many people and a great number of those people are Christians! Christ tells us that even sinners love those who love them, so by being "busy loving those who love me" what is the distinction between myself and non-believers? There is none! Christ doesn't pat us on the back for loving those who are nice to us! That's an effortless task! Our Heavenly Father rewards us for loving those who DON'T love us or treat us fairly! He challenges us as His people to love our enemies and pray for them instead of talk about them, and to lend a helping hand without looking for ANYTHING in return! It's a good thing to not make time to hate our enemies, but God commands us to make time to love our enemies and lift them up in prayer no matter what they do to us!
In the thirty-fifth verse of Luke 6, Christ assures us that our reward will be great and we will be considered children of the most high because He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. He tells us to be merciful towards people because our Father is merciful towards us every single day! If we're unforgiving and rude to people who don't treat us respectfully then we're not much different from non-believers at all and most importantly, we're not honoring God by keeping his commandments. Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying that this is something that I've mastered, because I have not!! I was convicted last night because I know I'm guilty of having that ungodly mindset. But I serve a master who can help us perfect our hearts and love the way He's called us to love! Go before the Lord and ask for His help, let Him wreck your heart so that you see the things inside of you that are not Christ-like! Let's strive to honor God in ALL of our ways so that our reward will be great and most of all, we'll please our Father! :)
You're so loved,
Erica Xx
