Tag Archives: love

July 10
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“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, NIV)

God expects His children — every one — to be as He is.

If it is otherwise, either God is wrong for expecting something of us that we are incapable of achieving; or we do not have His “DNA” and God is lying when He claims paternity.

Today’s scripture verse follows Jesus’ command — with explicit examples — to love our enemies.  It is often difficult to love our enemies because love is very personal. We crave it only from those who matter to us; and we give it only to those we deem worthy.  Frequently, we dehumanize our enemies.  It makes it easier not to love them.

To love as God loves is the litmus test of our progress toward divine perfection.  Succeed at this one thing, and everything else we do falls into place. Fail at this one thing, and nothing else we do (no matter how spiritual or sacrificial) matters.

The Gospel of John reminds us that “God so loved the world (the same “world” that would abuse and murder His only begotten Son) that God, nevertheless, gave. . .”  (John 3:16).

When a person accepts the way of Jesus, the Spirit of God is seal of God’s paternity. The Spirit is the power to be perfect as our Father is perfect. The Spirit is the strength to love.

It is not easy but, with God, it is possible — and expected.  – Luther

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May 29
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“They said, ‘Though John [the Baptist] never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.’ And in that place many believed in Jesus.” (John 10:41-42, NIV)

It is not necessary to be a worker of signs and miracles to be at the heart of the plan of God for this world.

John the Baptist only proclaimed the truth — and because of his testimony, many believed in Jesus.

It is worth noting that telling the truth is not always an easy task: Speaking the truth — in love — is hard when we’re personally frustrated; the truth is often at odds with “conventional wisdom” or with the “politically correct”; and the truth is often — as the proverb says — “just getting its shoes on while a lie has run half-way around the world.”

However, according to scripture, it is knowing the truth that makes us free. (John 8:32)

Not many of us will work miracles, but all of us can strive to know the truth intimately; to live the truth faithfully; and to speak the truth in love. In doing so, many around us will come to believe in Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.  – Luther

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April 14
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“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47, NASB)

The more we value something, the higher it rises in our list of what is important.

The woman in today’s scripture valued the forgiveness of God.  It wasn’t something she had taken for granted, and this singular act of God’s grace was always clear, near, and present.

Simon, who is also a part of the narrative of this scripture, took a lot of God’s gifts for granted — and it was apparent that he “loves little.”

Who are we: The woman who was filled with gratitude, awe, and love for her Lord because she appreciated the gifts of God; or Simon, who didn’t see the hand from Whom all of his blessings had come?  – Luther

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