“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
A young Jewish girl Anne Frank hiding from the Nazis during world war two in the Netherlands wrote,
“Give of yourself, give as much as you can? And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving!” Anne Frank.
What she wrote is true. If people in our society would learn to esteem others above themselves. To treat others as they would like to be treated then the world would be a better place.
Instead it seems like the world is becoming a more selfish place filled with hate.
I watched on the news a story about a young Palestinian teen who knifed an Israeli to death and was himself killed. The mother of the boy told reporters that he was a martyr for the Palestinian cause. The sad thing is she is not alone in believing that acts of violence are a justifiable way of getting what they want.
On a much larger scale terrorist are trying to use force of arms to get what they want.
My mother sat under the bombs of the Germans air force in England during world war two. She told me each bomb only made her and the people of Britain more determined to stand up to Hitler and the tyranny that was Naziism.
Attempting to get what you want through violence gets you nowhere.
Jesus set the example of how to conquer the world. Napoleon saying of Him,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
Napoleon Bonaparte,
Jesus made things very clear when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus also said,
“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 sons 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?
Matthew 5:43-46.
The apostle Paul made clear what true love is when he wrote,
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13The apostle Paul also wrote,
“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”
Romans 14:19
This is the only way we can truly be free.
Please think about it.
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