Love

People seek many things, from wealth to popularity to fame and so on.  We all have an agenda and we all have our own priorities.  When a person becomes a believer, his or her priorities should change because they become new creations in Christ, the old has passed away and the new has come. This is not an instant change but a lifetime experience.  Jesus said to seek ye first the kingdom of Heaven.

Now read what Paul said in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

The Word of God teaches so many life lessons and one of the most important is love and how we need to express it to others, in and out of the church, even to our enemies which only the Lord can do in us and through us.  Ultimately we have a choice to make, we can stay angry and become bitter or we can choose to forgive and seek the Lord’s help through prayer and Bible study, to love others.  We can seek to behave like a Christian or not, it is our choice.

Read what Paul said about this subject in Romans 12: 9-21, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore

‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Paul also talked about loving your neighbor in Romans 13:8-10, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

We need to act humbly towards others and always have an attitude that is willing to forgive.  I am not saying it is always going to be easy, but if we have the attitude to forgive and love, and that is what we choose, then we can seek the help of the Lord and let Him know our intentions and with that being His will for our lives, He will help us.

Jesus said this in Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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, 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Remember this, God gave His only begotten Son who gave His life for us when we were His enemies and He forgave us so we need to forgive others and love them.  Seek the Lord, love and forgive and live at peace with all men, if possible!!  Something to think about!  Have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!! PS don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!