Do Unto Others

Luke 6:27-31 27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

As Christians we have been commanded to love those whom hate/dislike/talk about/persecute/mistreat us. Why? Because if we only loved the ones who loved us and treated us right we would not be acting in a Christian Christ-like manner.

The hardest thing to do is to treat someone right whom you feel has wronged you. Yet that is exactly what Jesus wants you to do. Even as he was on the cross he said in Luke 23:34 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." As Jesus was in excruciating pain having been whipped, wearing a crown of thorns, having carried his cross He prayed for those who harmed him and asked God to forgive them.

We as Christians have to let our light shine in the midst of darkness and despair. Despite what someone has said or done to us we must if we are Christians continue to treat them with love and not change any of our behavior towards them as that is the Christian thing to do.

We can go to church every Sunday, we can go to church 3 or 4X/week. 1 Corinthians 13
Love 1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

God loved us so much that he gave up his only begotten son for us. Despite how we treat God, what we say to Him, how we use, misuse and abuse us His love for us never changes and never fails. That love is what we need to aspire to toward everyone we come in contact with here on this earth!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials