Love Wins
From Yara Armenta
When thinking about what to share, all I could think about is everything that is going on and has happened in the world. One thing that came to mind was Matthew 22:36-40.
Matthew 22:36-38 states, “'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment."
Jesus was very clear with the Pharisees about the devotion that God expects of us. With loving God with heart, soul, and mind, there comes a desire to have His characteristics which are labeled as the Fruits of the Spirit. God's love is unconditional, sacrificial, disciplined, grace-filled, and overwhelming. Are we loving God the way He loves us? Are we being examples of this love in our day-to-day life?
Matthew 22:39-40 states, "And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Loving our neighbor isn't referring to just those who are christian or think like us, it is referring to everyone. No conditions; as God's love through us should not be concealed, but rather shared with everyone. This means also being sacrificial, grace-filled, and disciplined with everyone around us.
In Luke 6:32 Jesus said, "'But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.'"
Are we really loving everyone? Are we really allowing ourselves to be vessels for God's love to work through us?
Jesus wraps this section up in Luke by saying, "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (Luke 6:35-36).
It is difficult to love those who persecute you for their hearts are full of evil, yet having grace and compassion is the solution. It helps if we understand that God knows them and sees their actions but also protects us. Pray for them and trust that God will reveal the hate in their hearts in His time. For His love always wins.
