“If you love those who love you, what benefit 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 benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." Luke 6:27-35
Jesus was a friend to sinners. Though sinless in nature and perfect in love he still thought we were “worth” his time! To this day, He desires to know us, reaches out for us, and yearns for a relationship with us just like the groom for his bride.
I wonder, how often do WE love, really love, those who don’t measure up to us? Those who maybe don’t impress us? How much do we open our arms to the newcomer, or refrain from judgment to the kid who is “different” in order to exercise God’s love? How many are hurting on account of our own sin?
Christ loved us and even put his own life on the line in order to save us. Not everyone understands or receives that love. Yet, it's there... for EVERYONE.
He calls us to love others like He loves us. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34-35 (ESV). Is our goal to please other people, or to truly love God and live the way He asked us to?
How do we "know" that we are loving others, the way that He loved us? The simple answer is, "we are not." But, that doesn't mean that he hasn't commanded us to become more like Him. He judges us by our heart action, not reaction. Who have you loved on today?
"I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV).
I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes
Yeeeah
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing
[Chorus]
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest [x2]
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees!
[Chorus]
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity
[Chorus x2]
Hosanna in the highest
