Love Your Enemies

Jesus is so good.  He is 'the Word made flesh'.  He is the God "I Am".  He came to explain and to demonstrate what all the scriptures are about.  Jesus told the Pharisee's "You search the scriptures because you think you will find eternal life in them, but the scriptures point to me!  But you refuse to come to me to recieve this life".  The Pharisee's had it all wrong, they put the focus on the written word and the law.  They missed the Messiah who was walking right in front of them.  Not only did they not recognize Him, they were intent on killing him and eventually did. 

Jesus said "I only say what I hear the Father say" and "I only do what I see the Father doing".  Jesus said "to all who are willing to listen, love your enemies.  Do good to them that hate you.  Bless those that curse you.  Pray for those that despitefully use you".  That is direct teaching from Jesus, telling us what He heard from the Father.  This is His command.  This is what we must do.  We should not filter and reason with what Jesus is telling us.  We must learn to listen and obey.  I must learn to listen and obey.  He goes on to say, "when someone asks for something you give it to them.  Give without expecting to get it back".  Wow!  That is true religion.  I need to get better at that.  Much better.  Lets all try to read the words of Jesus without filtering them.  To be like Him, we need to listen to Him and follow His commands.  He said "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and not do what I say?"  Lord Jesus, help us to listen and to obey and follow your commands and teachings without filtering them with our own reasoning.

Follow Me

Jesus hated dead religion.  When He came to the World, the World received Him not.  Not only did they not receive Him, the hated Him and killed Him.  The religious institution of His time was the Pharisee's.  They were the 'experts' on the Holy Scriptures.  They were the pastors and theologians.  Yet, they searched the scriptures and still did not recognize the Messiah walking in their midst.  Not only did they not recognize Him, they were so far off, they hated Him and killed Him.  "He came onto His own and His own received Him not".  What a paradox.  Jesus brought a simple message of "forgive and you will be forgiven".  Jesus said simply "follow me".  Jesus said all the laws and all the commandments are wrapped up in these two things, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself".  The Pharisee's made following God a heavy burden.  Jesus said "my burden is light".  The Pharisee's were happy to execute judgement on the women caught in adultry, Jesus had mercy.  We can be glad that we serve a loving Lord.  We can be happy that we serve a forgiving God.  He loves you!  He "came to save", not to judge.  Jesus forgives you and loves you just as you are right now.  Right at this minute, He accepts you as you are and welcomes you into His family.  All you have to do is "follow me", follow the Lord Jesus Christ.  Once you come into His family He will never kick you out. 

Jesus said "I only do what the Father shows me to do" and "I only say what I hear Him say".  He was and is a direct representation of who God is.  When you think of God, think of Jesus.   He came to explain the scriptures and to show who God is.  Do not think of that picture of a giant and mean God in Heaven.  Be thankful that when we wonder what God is like that we can look at Jesus, loving, forgiving, accepting, healing, protecting, against dead religion, for reconciliation and an eternal friendship.  Jesus said "I came to do what the Father told me to do" and now we are to continue that.  Now, we say what we 'hear Jesus saying' (what He said) and we follow Him, and his example.

Lets make sure we are following the example of Jesus and not the Pharisee's.  Lets enjoy this day that the Lord has made.  Lets lift our hands to heaven and thank Him for being who He is.  He loves you.  He loves you right now just as you are.  If you love Him and want to follow Him, tell Him that right now.  Start to follow Him today.  Find a local Chrisitian Church for Christian friendships.  Pray for God to help guide you and bring people into your life who will help you to follow Him and start living your life as Jesus did.

Jesus Said:

I have been reading from the book of John where Jesus kept saying "I only say what I hear the Father saying" and "I only do what I see the Father doing".  As the chapters continue, Jesus starts to say things like "My disciples follow my commands".  He starts with the example of His own life and then as He is teaching the disciples (and us) He turns it to teach us that we need to 'say what He tells us to say' and 'do what He shows us to do'.  Those are two very important lessons for us, what we SAY and what we DO.  I am praying that He will help me to follow His example without any excuses or filtering or reasoning with His commands.

God is good all the time!