Doing good
"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (NIV) Matthew 5:43-48
We believe most of us will identify a betrayal by a family or a friend, a harsh word or an action that shows this friend or family member certainly does not have good intentions towards us. What about being slandered by a family or a friend you feel you will do anything for? Someone, you even love so much as to put his or her interests above yours?
You feel so hurt and decide you will never have anything to do with this person or rather you will keep your distance. Then this same friend or family member needs help. What will you do? Let us pause a moment here and think of what you will do...
The devotional text from the book of Matthew 5:43-48 admonishes us to love our enemies, bless them and do good to them that hate us as well as pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us in a way. It is a command and as such, we should follow this command to the master's expectations.
Again, Matthew asks a very interesting question: If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the publicans do that! We as Christians need to go beyond this! Offer help and do good to those we know can even hurt us in every way possible!
Turning to Jesus and asking him for the strength to do this and secondly knowing that the good we do is not for that man but to our maker will help us carry out this command. If God in His infinite wisdom forgives our betrayal, we definitely have no business holding grudges.
One of our favorite hymnals goes like this…
Each day I will do a golden deed by helping those who are in need.
My life on earth is but a breath and so I will do the best I can!
May God help us as we spread smiles and lots of love to our families, friends, neighbors or even enemies.