November 20, 2022
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers and sisters only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
So often we hear, “They loved everyone” but find out that really isn’t so. It’s hard to love everyone. But it can be done. I know. I saw it. I knew someone God like. Sharon Hodges Schalchlin was that person. She loved easily. She loved her husband, David Schalchlin with that special love. She even loved me. She was perfect.
Simply put Jesus is telling us that if we want to be like God we have to be perfect. But today he isn’t saying we can’t make mistakes. He isn’t speaking in human terms of perfection.
We know that God is perfect and we know from 1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” He loves all of Creation.
So, you want to be what God created you to be? LOVE EVERYONE.
At least that’s what I heard Him say…
What I Heard Him Say 