Mark 12:31
“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
LOVE– strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
You shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself. Love is a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties…. We are ALL Brothers and Sisters in Christ, hence kinship or a personal tie. Yet look at how we treat one another…..Hmmm? Doesn’t that make you think a little bit. Sometimes the way that I treat others is NOT the way that I want to be treated.
I have read two books by/about Mother Teresa in the past few days. One is called A Simple Path and the other is No Greater Love (I would strongly suggest either of them). The theme in both books is pretty easy. LOVE. Not love sometimes or love when you feel like it but always love. Love until it hurts and then love some more. Sometimes I think I don’t know if I can love anymore, I don’t know if I can let love out weigh my anger or frustrations….
How do you over come those feelings?
I can tell you this. I have been challenged this month to love in some instances. Actually in quite a few. I have learned that instead of looking at what someone “did” to me or said that “offended me” that I need to look at them with different eyes. I have been called to love others like myself. Sometimes it is hard to love myself unless I see myself through Jesus’ eyes. So if to love even MYSELF I have to see myself through Jesus, then why do I so quickly forget to see Jesus in those who “hurt” or “offend” me? Because if I see Jesus in them, then SURELY I can see and find love. How QUICKLY we forget the following verse:
Matthew 25:40
“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
As this month produces challenges for all of us where ever we are at in our lives I challenge you to grow in finding Jesus in every person you meet. Whether you meet them for 10 minutes or have known them all your life. Seek Christ in everyone and truly learn to love.
LOVE!
