James 2:8 tells us, "You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scriptures, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (James is the natural brother of Jesus, and a leader of the synagogue in Israel.)
"James is quoting the words of Jesus in answer to the question, "Which of the commandments is the greatest.?" James reminds us that this is not just a generalized concept, but one that we must really abide by. This is the attitude that must be exhibited, even when my "neighbor" is obnoxious or repulsive to me. Jesus came to save lost sinners. He does this even while we are sinning and far from the Kingdom of God. As disciples of Jesus can we do less?
"This is a commandment for me that is easy to say, but hard to fulfill when I feel I'm being used, ridiculed or ignored. If I'm to follow Jesus, this must be my action, my work, even when my "neighbor" is not kind or loving.
"Lord Jesus, empower me to show love and kindness to all, especially to those with whom I have no natural affinity. Amen."
Love and kindness to all......ALL! Is this really right? In this day and age? How can we be kind or show love to another nation which hates us? We call the U.S. a Christian nation, but we have others living here in peace who are fine citizens. We have many others who belong to different faiths, and we have lots of different types of Christians, as well. All of us together are a great testimony of being the united of the United States. We definitely have our differences and our quarrels. But we have agreed to disagree peacefully in order to have unity. Staying united as One is our main purpose, and it takes a lot of work and consideration of one another.
Now the world about us is pressing upon us. Some are insistent that only their way is perfection, and the rest of us are to be destroyed, and not only destroyed but destroyed with utter horror. This, of course, brings out a terrible fear into our world as we stand in the way of this new movement.
Personally, I would rather die than give into the fear they delight in , but I am now old. But my grandchildren are not old. And their children are not old. So, this world must hang onto our Lord and Savior, our Jesus who died on a cross so we could live in Him. Living in Him is better than living in the fear of what others would have us be. I'm with Christ all the way! And I will show the world my love for Him in whatever way God will ask! And I will love my enemy..if it kills me!
Are you with me? O, help us, God, to do the difficult, if not the impossible.
Jo INMN
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