Look, if God could love... change... move my once self-centered heart to accept His love. How could I not love Him back, how could I not love others once realizing how Jesus loved an undeserving me. I can not help myself in allowing His love to overflow into the lives of others, whether or not they like or love me. Why? Because God used a few of Christ followers to love the hell out of my once hateful heart.
I hated anything to do with Christianity. I would walk the other direction if I knew you were one. In fact, this former New Ager who considered herself agnostic... borderline atheist and truly an anti-Christ spirit wanted to stone... okay not stone. But, blinded by darkness I made sure they knew I didn't believe in their hypocritical, self-righteous, and judging sort of religion, by mocking or putting them in their place. But, those who really were Christians did not stone me or judged me. No, I was the one who hypocritically criticized and judged them. Though I did not understand their jargon and overly loving ways, they continued to be kind to me no matter how rude I was. But someone loved me enough to pray for my broken and hurt soul, eventually God opened my eyes and drew me to Himself.
So, if you consider yourself a Christian make it your goal to celebrated Christmas everyday of the year by your love walk... and not only with those who share your faith, but also towards those who don't. In fact, if you say you are a Christ Follower you are commanded to love all. Even those who don't agree or who mock and make fun of your faith. And, if you have Christ Jesus in your heart, it is possible to love all. You... I will just have to pray for them as someone prayed for you and me. Remember, Jesus refused to get up tight about being lied on, made fun of and constantly rejected. Jesus even ask God the Father to forgive them for they knew not what they were doing in crucifying Him. He made a choice to display compassion and loved to all Jewish and Gentiles. He never hated anyone. So what if people hate you??? Again, you..I... we, are called to love them!
The human tendency is to judge and compare sins. Sometimes I fail, but I do purpose myself not to judge other's sins. After all, it is far easier to point out others sins and weakness, than to examine and admit ones own. Yes, sometimes it isn't easy to recognize our own sins, in fact it is quite uncomfortable to pull the log out of... at least my own eye. As I said, we should not judge but showcase loving kindness and tender mercies... as in love. Yes, Christ said the greatest commandment is to love and everything hangs on love. I can only imagine the worse sin would be hatred.... only God knows (then again sin is sin in His eyes). And as an former unbelieving... anti-Christian, I don't remember anyone in my sphere of influence hating others... and for no reason as much as I. But, that would be expected of a non-Christians to hate, but Christians really haven't any excuse to hate or judge, for they are indwelled with the Holy Spirit's pure agape... love of God, through their faith in Christ Jesus. Yet, sometimes I see Christians...so called believers meaner and more hateful than those who are not Christians.
So, may we all take inventory of our Love walk towards all people, being more loving and forgiving just as we are loved and forgiven by God. Again, if we consider ourselves Christians we can love others unconditionally. It is possible to love all, again Christians have the Holy Spirit's power of Love through Christ Jesus to help to Love as Christ Jesus did . So may I... you.... we, tap into the God's kind... Pure Agape Love to love all people. Christians... remember as followers of Christ Jesus, we have no excuse to hate anyone who do not know what or why they are doing what they do, especially when they aspire to mocked and persecute us. It is not flesh and blood we are dealing... you know who is behind all hatred.
Thank you Abba, for Jesus Christ Love for the unsaved... the lost... for finding me. May we all continue to show love kindness to those who are blinded by satan. Realizing God's Truth: " they know not what they do". . Just Encouraging us all. ~Doll
As written in 1 Corinthians 15:9: "9)For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."