Pastor Al is out of town today, so we are re-posting a devotion from June, 2000. He will return on Monday.
Text: Matthew 5:43-48
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate youre enemy" But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 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 and sisters, what more are you doing that others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as you heavenly Father is perfect.
That you may be children of God. I use the children of God language quite a bit to remind us of this neverending always filling love of God for us. Here, the fullness of that love is exposed. This is the more unpleasant part of this neverending and always filling love of God. As unconditionally and as universally as God loves....love. Each time we put conditions on our loving ( and we all do ) we take the world as our model. Sure it is love...but not as the children of God are invited to love. Our infatuation with "family values" always comes into this discussion of love - at least for me. It remains my opinion that family values are not some kind of life saving discipline. Why? When we hold our "family" as our center and the defining aspect of our lives it does not always bring "God-like" loving into the world. It is too often limited and resticted...to my own kind. Though teaching children the values one holds as a family is good, remember that it is often family values that create tyrants and oppressive regimes. Adolf Hitler loved the Arian race and would do anything to build it and anything to remove any threat to that family system. On all people the rain falls and the sun shines - on all. Much easier said that done. Any yet, this radical call to love is enough to turn our heads...our lives...in order to consider another way.
Connection: Just once today can we embrace the "other side" in some shape or form. Not in a "point getting" way...like someone earning a badge. More like how can God' love make a difference in this moment in the life of one of "God's beloved children" - both the giver and the receiver.
Loving God. What can we say - be present at our table Lord...be present at our working Lord...be present in our loving Lord...be present in our conficts Lord....be present and shape us into your Children. Teach us the values of your Reign and they life they cause to unfold before us. Amen.
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