The Challenge to Love Like Jesus

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Do you love like Jesus? Do you think it is even possible? As I read through the scriptures, Jesus is consistently pointed out as the example to which we are to aspire. He is our ideal. Yet, when it comes to loving others we find it difficult. A real challenge to see past the surface images to the hurting hearts of people who just want to be loved. 

The depth of character that God encompasses is also a great hurdle for most people. We are bombarded with slogans and mantra’s like “God is Love” that portray one aspect of who God is. Then, on the opposite spectrum end is the God of judgment that seems harsh and unbending in His punishment of sin. Those who take the time to study and learn about who God really is would come to realize that a God of justice is “just" because of His great love. It is because He cares, because He has our best interest at heart that He wants to see us do what is right and honorable. If there were no consequences, no justice, then the universe would be utter chaos. 

The study in this week’s Sunday School lesson was on Matthew 25:31-46; The Sheep and the Goats. As I studied this section of scripture it became apparent to me that God did not and still does not want any of us perish. He is giving us, his children, his creation, every opportunity to accept His son, to come to Him for our salvation to have the inheritance, the kingdom prepared for us since he created the world. He did not create the fires of hell for us but for the devil and his angels. We have a choice! 

We can choose to salvation in Jesus. 

We can choose to love people as Jesus did by serving others as he did and thereby serve him as well. Or, we can reject him and be more focused on our own selfish needs and wants. We may even somehow think we are being “saved” by being in church or playing “christian”. However, the conviction that has been landing so heavily on my heart of late is directly pointing to loving and serving those we come in contact with. I don’t even think we have look hard to find a cause, we just have to ask God to open our spiritual eyes and have a willing spirit. People who need love, need compassion, need a touch from Jesus are all around us if we would just take the time see them. We have to stop our busyness and show them the agape love of Christ.

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