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Thursday, March 5, 2009
Finding Our Target
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and
hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for
those people that do bad things to you. If you do this, then
you will be true sons of your Father in heaven. Your Father
lets the sun rise for the good people and the bad people.
Your Father sends rain to people that do good and to people
that do wrong."
-- Matthew 5:43-45 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
This is a powerful conclusion to the things Jesus has been teaching us.
In the Kingdom Family of God, the "greater righteousness" has as its
visible sign a radically different, redemptively loving commitment for
those around us. As Jesus reminded us in the Beatitudes, and again
challenges us here, our goal is to love our neighbor. When our desire
is to act redemptively, our neighbor becomes anyone who needs the love
of the Father. The Father -- God himself -- is to be our inspiration,
goal, and target in this pursuit. Because God is our Father, his traits
should be our traits. He loved the world and sent his Son knowing that
many would reject him. Yet that love is transformational:
transformational for our world, our friendships, our families, and our
attitude toward our enemies.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Almighty, yet compassionate Father, give me greater patience and
confidence as I try to love those who are not very lovable and try to
return grace to those who have enmity for me. When I do these things, I
know that I am only allowing your character to come through in my life.
In my quest to be like you, I do not desire your power, O Lord, for you
alone are God. But I do earnestly want to take on your holy and
gracious character. Work your will in my heart through your Holy
Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/matthew/0305-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Matthew+5:43-45&sr=1&t=erv
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