The love of Christ leads us and enables us as Christians not to think of our own well-being only, but to be considerate of others as well. When a person becomes a Christian, God Almighty gives him or her His Holy Spirit to live within. The Holy Spirit thenceforth helps him or her to love others as himself/herself. We are directed to bear one another’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Jesus commanded us to love our enemies; those who treat us badly; those who undermine us; those who see nothing good in us; those who try to block our way to progress; those who are difficult to love in the real human sense. These are those who perhaps, legally and logically do not deserve to be loved. We should however bear it in mind that we too are being loved non-stop by God, though we are very much undeserving. At least, you can and should pray for them. I do not say that you should condone their evil practices, but I say you should not give up on them. Naturally, we should not expose ourselves as to become vulnerable to their physical, psychological, material or spiritual attacks on a continuing basis. Jesus said: 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, That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:44-45). Communication is a good means of sorting out differences between two or more persons. This could be verbal or non-verbal. It could be face to face: one-to-one, one to two or more; in conference via phone, or other electronic media. In today’s world, any of the social media is being used. Differences could also be resolved via writing, e-mails, texts and such like. Jesus said further: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect(Matthew 5:46-48). If an enemy is hungry, thirsty, exposed to the weather, or in need of something we are capable of supplying, then we should give them food,water or appropriate drink, provide shelter or cover from the elements and move on to do any other right thing within our capability. If that enemy or those enemies persist in the evil acts, then God would fight for us (as stated in Romans 12:19-21). Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul stated in his letter to the Christians in Rome: Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (Romans 12:9-10). He also stated that they should be relevant in and to their neighbourhood by being compassionate, kind, helpful, encouraging, humble, considerate and non-retaliatory – that is, no tit for tat. They should live at peace with every one in the community. Do good to everyone and be extra good to your fellow Christian brother and sister.Every person born into this world has a unique role, duty and relevance for the overall benefit of this world. More so, every Christian is gifted by God, to be a blessing to the Church and the whole world. No individual should arrogate exclusive rights and powers to himself/herself. Others should be allowed to exercise their God-given gifts to bless the church. A leader who makes that difficult or impossible is working against God. Such a person shall not go unpunished, unless he/she repents! Considering human relationships at the marital level,herein is the deepest and highest level of Christian love contained. The Bible compares it to no higher grade than that between Christ and the Church. It is writen: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself (Ephesians 5:25-28). It is very abnormal for a person to hate himself! Following the example of the union between Christ and the Church, the husband is head, while the wife is the body. Who has seen a living headless body before?I know no one. On the other hand no one has seen a living bodyless head. That is the strong reason for cleaving to take place. This fast age is too impatient to allow mutual loving and submission to enhance perfect cleavage in the marriage relationship established by God. A man gets the kind of wife he works for; likewise a woman gettng her kind of husband according to how much she submits lovingly.We need more of lifelong marriage relationships as directed by the MANUFACTURER,Who is none other than GOD Himself. The church needs and has true love. The LOVE must be lived. It is that peak,width and depth of Love that is of God (Agape). Please, let brotherly love continue.
29 Jan
AgapeFocus 