In Not Of

“One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer; he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one, “answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)

Yes, “All the commands rest on these two; Loving the Lord your God and Loving your neighbor as yourself.”

But what do we see today instead? We see ignorance, intolerance, hatred, and division. We see division in marriages, family members, businesses, countries, and the entire planet. God said love the person. Not their behaviors. Division births hatred. Illogical reasoning stir up hatred based on intolerance of what we do not understand or agree with. This is why we as followers of Jesus are to let His Light shine in and through us. Jesus asked God to protect us from the evil that abounds in this world because we are not of the world.

He also asked God to sanctify us with the truth despite the evil we are exposed to. We are to bring TRUTH, even if the truth is unpopular and no one likes to hear it. Telling the Truth does not mean we do not have compassion for others. Telling the Truth does not mean we are being judgmental. The Truth opens the Way for Life in Christ to begin.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.” John 17:15-17 (NIV)

What Jesus was praying is that we must be sanctified through Him. This is why we are called to show unconditional regard for ALL life. We are called to walk in unity and be a conduit of His Agape Love. So, instead of bashing each other, feeding into intolerance, or taking sides, try finding common ground. Everyone has a story, everyone has felt pain and hurt, and we all bleed the same.

Love for Enemies

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 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. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36 (NIV)

Be blessed today. Be a blessing to someone else. Let us counteract the hate. Be kind.