Whatever our earthly assignment is, it has something to do with us interacting with people. Imagine leaving this world and finding out that we had only one job to do in addition to loving and serving the Lord, and that was: to love one another—Period!
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31, NLV)
Think about how different the world would be if more of us understood God unequivocally meant what He said, that we are to love each other, including those we discredit for whatsoever reason. Of course, anybody can love those good to them, but we are commanded to love our enemies and do good to them without expecting anything in return (see Luke 6:32-35).
We don’t have to wonder how Jesus would handle the humanitarian issues of today because they were the same in His day. The only difference is that Jesus didn’t discriminate like many of us; He didn’t use His authority to victimize; He used His time on earth to humbly serve all humankind; He saw all humans as precious souls. Do we?
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:12 that whatever we want others to do for us, do the same for them. However, many people today point fingers with the attitude that they are above reproach.
That type of arrogancy is toying with self-destruction. Therefore, before we offer any judgmental opinions, it would be wise to filter them through that verse in Matthew. Is this how I would want to be treated in their situation?
The script could flip!
Suppose the script flipped, and we had to walk in the shoes of those we judged, mocked, and criticized. Would we have a change of heart? Perhaps then we would learn a valuable life lesson about—Love.
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap
(Galatians 6:7, ESV).
© 2022
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