Not Me; But We Who Are In Christ

Reading from Colossians 3:1-11 KJV with brief meditation. We ought to quit focusing on ourselves. It's not about me. It's about we, the Body of Christ. It's about Christ loving others through us.

Loving Others

"For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." (1 John 3:11 KJV)

Quite often, I try to imagine what the world would be like if everyone actually attempted to love one another. Being sinful human beings that can be pretty tough at times. It is tough to love when a person is being abused or neglected. Sometimes, it is tough for them to even love themselves when the people that should care about them consistently put them down and work to destroy them. They begin to think that they really are not worthy of love.

But, God considers us all worthy of love. He wants us to live in the knowledge and the reality of his love. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

According to St. Paul: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 8:5)

It can be very difficult to love those who hate you and persecute you; but, it may be worth the effort. It also might mean that you have to distance yourself from others so that you don't get pulled into a situation of fear, anger, or outright hatred. It is much easier to love when you aren't being abused. It would be nice if abusers would learn to love others as well. But, we live in the world and for now, in most cases, that's not happening. 

As Christians, we should love one another. We should love even our enemies.  Jesus said: "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.." (Matt 5:43-44)

Alas, sometimes (often) it is easier to love our enemies and our frienemies with a measured amount of distance between us. At times like these we can still love. We do not have to live in resentment or hatred. We can bless them by praying that their hearts might be changed. 

We should do all that we can to show love one another even as God has shown us that he loves both our enemies and even us in spite of our sinful ways.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

God So Loved The World

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

The good news for today and every day is found in John 3:16. This news is so good that we should be shouting it from the rooftops. We should at the least be sharing it with those around us. There is no need to fear death. There is no need to fear life in this world, either. In Christ we have eternal life!

In Christ we have a love beyond comparison. Live life in the one who loves you so much that he was willing to die that you might live. Live life in Christ! 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Gave Himself For Us

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

(Eph 5:1-2 NRSV)

What does this mean? Even as he gave his life that we might live we are to give our lives up for the sake of others. That does not necessarily mean that it is inevitable that we die physical deaths for others as Jesus did. It may mean that; but, not necessarily. It means that we love the people of God around us as Christ loves and would be willing, if necessary to die for them.

Mostly it means that we will put the needs of others before our own desires. We needed to have our sins washed away in order to be reconciled to God our Father; in order to enter the Kingdom of God. God had a plan. That plan was to make the ultimate sacrifice; a sacrifice so great that it would cover the sins of all people. That plan meant that the one without sin, Jesus Christ, would bear the sins of the world on the cross. He gave himself for us.

As followers of Jesus, we are to be imitators of him. His primary concern was not and is not for himself. Our primary concern is not for ourselves. His primary concern is following the will of our Father in heaven; loving Him; and, lovingly giving himself for the sake of others. 

May God help us to set aside our self-serving desires to do the will of our Father so that others might know of His great love for all human-kind.

God's Peace - Pr. J