Be Perfect

  

Matthew 5: 43-48

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

:"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." (Mt 5: 44-43)  A tall order, one on which we could easily choke.  What's the alternative, hate your enemies, ignore your enemies, dismiss your enemies? These alternatives never erase the enemies, but the proposal of Jesus does.  Loved enemies become friends. and we and our communities help make a better, safer, more loving world.  Look at the world headlines today.  Is this the kind of world God imagined when he created it?  Is this the kind of world in which we feel safe and comfortable or happy?  Isn't it better to overcome personal and most likely, petty, differences so that peace and love might flourish?  It's a tall order, but it beings with me.  Jesus challenges us to be perfect as our heavenly Father  who created all, who loves all. Cant we meet the challenge?  It may take a lifetime, but it's the way to go.

Bro. Rene