Category: Love Your neighbor

  • Showers of Mercy and Grace

    pussy willows

    Over the past few days, we have been blessed to have temperatures well above seasonal norms. Things are budding out everywhere. In protected areas, spring bulbs are blooming. Pussy willows are making a strong appearance.

    Starting today and for the next week, the forecast is rain. Normal temperatures, no frost in sight, but rain. Some days, non-stop rain, others off and on, and finally, occasional showers.

    I confess I found myself mumbling about the change when I read the forecast. As thought occurred to me, “How did you think all that new growth is going to get watered?”

    In the sermon on the Mount, Jesus used rain as a metaphor for His love and grace.

     “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48 ESV

    He pours his love and grace out even on those who hate him. The Lord doesn’t hate sinners. He loves us all and blesses us all more than we deserve. It’s simply that sin cannot be in the full presence of a holy god, so those who reject His mercy suffer the consequences.

    When the rain comes and when the sun shines, it can remind us of the vastness of His grace and mercy. It reminds us that He’s raining mercy, or in the lyrics of a popular song, there are “showers of mercy and grace, falling on every face.”

    I don’t know what storms you face today (literal or metaphorical). I don’t know whether you have sun, rain, or snow in your forecast. I do know that God loves you and wants to bless you.

    If you know Him already, rejoice that He cared enough to save you. If you don’t yet know Him, set aside your pride and run to His open arms.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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  • Unintended Results – Love your neighbor

    Genni the wonder dog

    I was looking through my photos recently and came across one  of Genni the Wonder Dog. She used to feature prominently in the first incarnation of Gleanings (started in January 2001 – ended about 2011).

    Genni was a cute puppy when she chose me outside the SPCA. A fellow was dropping off an unplanned litter, and we asked to see them. The neighbor’s dog had managed to get together with his purebred border collie. I picked one up and Genni immediately adopted me.

    I remembered a time she had damaged some knee ligaments in one of her back legs and had been busy recovering and doing very little walking. After a few days of resting, I took her outside for a gentle stroll.

    The instant we got outside, she went up on her hind legs and hit the end of the lead hard. She just kept pulling. It took a moment for me to realize that she had seen a rabbit on the lawn, and the rabbit was now making a beeline for the park across the street. 

    We managed to walk maybe 20-30 yards before she had to sit down and rest her knee.I ended up carrying her partway back. I’m sure that was a sight. This dog with a full-sized Border Collie body (but Basset Hound length legs) cuddled safely in my arms as I walked home. I wondered who the smart one really was.

    What had started as a nice therapeutic stretch ended up with her crippled back up again. It would be a few days before we could give it another try.

    Sometimes in life, the best-intentioned plans don’t work out as we think they should. We try to make amends in a damaged relationship, and it just causes more hurt. We try to explain, but it only makes things worse.

    You try to help someone, and they take advantage of you or your generosity. You help someone else with a project, and they get the promotion you deserved. You do the right things for the right motives, and it just backfires.

    Sometimes we wonder if it’s even worthwhile trying.

    The Bible tells us that it’s part of our job to love our neighbor even when it’s not appreciated or rejected outright.

    “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 

    As a believer, you are required to do your part, which is to love even the unlovable. You’re not responsible for how they respond. That part is up to God to deal with.

    Even a non-believer finds it easy to love or give when it’s appreciated. It’s when things don’t go as we think they should that the rubber hits the road. Do you still love and give, even when there’s nothing in it for you except heartbreak? Do you love your neighbor?

    Obedience isn’t always easy, but in the long run, it’s the most important thing next to the decision to accept Jesus Christ.

    Until next time, may you love your neighbor even when the walking gets tough.

    Kevin

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