Love - Luke 16:27-36

[Elder-Shawn Denise Briscoe]

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High GOD. HE is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your FATHER also is merciful.

This scripture fits perfectly to a story I will like to share with you. After visiting my uncle; he shared with me that he does not like his neighbor and how she has a mean and un-neighborly character. He told me how he used to shovel the snow from in front of her home and clear her driveway. This would also apply to the fallen leaves in the fall; he would make sure that the leaves that fell in front of her home were blown into a neat pile. Then one day; she parked her car a wee bit too close to his car in the drive way. He noticed that his car was skidding a wee bit and he did not want to tap her vehicle with his. He saw his neighbor at her door and asked her if she would move her vehicle just a bit to clear the chance of an accident. She declined with a negative attitude. This caused him to look at her very differently and he has since refused to speak with her or to do the kind acts that he once did for her. I explained to him that the Word of GOD says to do good to those that harm you; in your acts of kindness you will heap hot coals upon their head. He gave me a joke about that (I don’t remember the joke); I laughed and drove away. My darling uncle goes to church faithfully every Sunday and participates in various venues for the church that he attends. Now because of his religious faith that I will not disclose; he is not being taught about forgiveness, love, kindness and so forth that we are to genuinely have from the Holy Spirit who resides in us when we truly have CHRIST JESUS also living inside of us. Yes, it can be a bit hard sometimes when people show their nastiness. But we as true CHRISTians must be far above that. We have the Holy Spirit or we should have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us; who gives us the power and ability to love with purity. One of the fruits that come from the Holy Spirit is Love. Love is the commandment that JESUS said was first and foremost in our daily way of life in and through HIM. Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 12:9, I say that of these two scriptures I’ve provided for further reading; opens up the understanding of who we are to be in love not only for GOD our Creator or JESUS our Savior who we have not seen. But towards ourselves and humankind from all walks of life. The only sight of our Creator GOD and our Savior CHRIST JESUS that we have is each other. We are the reflection of JESUS. We can’t keep speaking about love and not have the ability or power from within through the Holy Spirit to live in the love that we are commanded to do. If you don’t love yourself; you cannot love GOD or JESUS. If you don’t love mankind, you don’t love GOD or JESUS. How can you love GOD or JESUS who you have not seen and not love your brother or sister in CHRIST JESUS who you do see? If you don’t have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of you; ask GOD that He comes into your life as JESUS promised. JESUS said that HE would not leave us without a helper and that helper is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will witness to us about love who is JESUS; He will show us how to love; He will help us in every area of our lives. Today, make up in your mind and heart to love; not for reasons that people will give you to love them. You maybe waiting your lifetime. Love because you have been commanded to in CHRIST JESUS and because you want to live to please your FATHER GOD. http://about.me/amfbministry