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43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. 48"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."
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Not sure if one of you few readers needed that today or if it was just for me. Take it or leave it, but we all probably have a Darth Maul in our lives and we all have a choice. I'm making mine today.
Russell my Brother,
ReplyDeleteEach one of us has our own relationship with God. Some of us are blessed more than others and maintain a closer relationship with Him.
Oh.... to have your faith.
How you maintain your faith and your love of others, considering your circumstance, should be a lesson for us all. You have set the bar high. Higher I think than I will ever be able to leap.
While you pray for your enemies, also pray for us who know better but choose not to; those who know God, but keep Him at arms length instead of in a constant embrace; those who desperately want to walk with God but let the world get in our way; those who wish to know Him, but fail to
introduce themselves.
Thank you for your never failing faith, your inspiration, your friendship and love.
Take care my brother. Keep your butt down.
Spud, you are too kind in your words. We'll walk this together! My butt's down...
ReplyDeleteThe Message? Hmmm...interesting version...are you doing all of your reading there or mixing it up? Just curious... :)
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