Golden Love
Matthew 7:9-12 Which
of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for
a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what
you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
I have a sad heart when some people say, “Oh, yes, my friend
sins, but Jesus loves everyone.” as if to say, “There’s no need to correct my
friend. He certainly can live any way he wants because Jesus loves him.” And we
know Jesus never spoke harshly to anyone or rebuked his people’s sin did he?
After all, Jesus loved everyone.
My heart is sad
because this so far from our Lord’s true love. See Jesus’ words: “If you, then, though you are evil…” The
Lord is a tough preacher. He holds back no words to identify the state of their
spiritual depravity.
Then, he lovingly
preaches the true way out of evil with the “Golden Rule”. “Do to others what you would have them do to you.”
This is the rule
of love. Notice he tacks onto the rule, “for
this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Elsewhere he summarizes the law
with, “Love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and Love your neighbor
as yourself. The Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt
22:37-40)
The way out of
evil is to love God and to love others, loving them as you want them to love you.
LIFE Link: God loves us out of evil.
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