Happy Monday--Love One Another

Happy Monday! I hope you had a good weekend and are ready to start the week! October...can you even believe this year is in its final quarter? Mercy. 


I heard the best sermon yesterday. It was about not hating. Sounds simple, right? But in this world of hate and violent disagreement, where we can't seem to have a difference of opinion without wanting to scream at one another or belittle or threaten, just the idea of "don't hate people" is a concept worthy of a sermon. 

The pastor used an example of a FB post he had seen lately with the world largest tuna being hauled in. He said it had over 200,000 comments that he started reading and just couldn't stop. He kept trying to find just one that said something nice, something that wasn't mean to another poster but it just wasn't there. Every single thing he read was mean, hateful, slandering, and/or just hurtful. What ever became of courtesy? Of manners? Of simply be ye kind one to another? 

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:1-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"They will be cruel and hate what is good..." and we don't have to look very far to substantiate, do we? But, we certainly don't have to take part in it. Even for those who hate us, we simply do not have to hate back. 

““You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:43-47‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One thing the pastor said that has resonated with me since he said it yesterday. "One thing I know is true: Jesus will return and He will judge the living and the dead as to how we have lived our lives. We need to be ready." And being ready means living as Jesus would have us to live. Every single day. Being good to others and not hateful, or even just indifferent, but considerate and hospitable and warm and friendly...kind. We are called to be DIFFERENT. 

Today, let's be mindful of the Spirit and His urgings. Be ye kind one to another and be ready to tell anyone about the love of the Father and what Jesus has done for you and why you are different and not sucked into this hate-filled world. Be ready. 

Love you dear one,

Pam

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