⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ 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. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect! Tall order?

Well, this little section gives us a clue to God in His perfectness. Its His love and His grace.

How often do we measure, or decide who deserves? Probably alot. It’s easy to think of those who dont live like us, look like us, act like us to be seen by us as less than. We may not say that but how we can tell is by how we withhold.

Here is God’s perfectness. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. He doesnt withhold. He gives. That is who He is.

And just to say it. Is there a time for the judgment? Yes. But it is isn’t now and it isn’t our courtroom.

So give. Give love to those who you love and give love to those who don’t love you.

Just because He would.

Notice when you are deciding who deserves something?
Who are these people? How are you withholding?

Father, forgive us for all the ways we act so unlike You. Help us to notice when we are withholding from people because they are different from us, because they aren’t doing what we think is right. Help us to remember, that the God of the universe gives to the just and the unjust. He gives to the evil and the good. That is who You are! A benevolent and giving God. Help me to remember that I dont do everything right either and still You lavished Your love on me. Thank you Lord. Make me more like You. In Jesus Name. Amen.

All is grace,

Starla