His Call to Love

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2014 4:40 pm Post subject: His Call to Love

His Call to Love

Scripture:

He that sacrifices to gods, shall be put to death, save only to the Lord. You shall not molest a stranger, nor afflict him: for yourselves also were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not hurt a widow or an orphan. If you hurt them, they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry: And my rage shall be enkindled, and I will strike you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. If you lend money to any of my people that is poor, that dwells with you, you shall not be hard upon them as an extortioner, nor oppress them with usuries. If you take of your neighbor a garment in pledge, you shall give it him again before sunset. (Exodus 22:20-26)

For our gospel has not been unto you in word only, but in power also: and in the Holy Spirit and in much fullness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes. And you became followers of us and of the Lord: receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit: So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and in Achaia but also in every place: your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you: and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead), Jesus, who has delivered us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10)

But the Pharisees, hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, came together. And one of them, a doctor of the law, asked him, tempting him: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depends the whole law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:34-40)

Reflection:

He calls us to love and care for one another. He does not desire punishment for the children of His creation, but as they fail to follow His commandments, as they act in selfish desire which yields harm to another, they become the cause of the punishment they do not wish to receive. He will hear the cry of the innocent, the poor, the lame, those who are maltreated. He will see those who oppress, those who bring anguish, those who steal and defraud, those who destroy families, those who bear false witness and those who kill. No action which yields harm shall go unnoticed by Him, and the day will come where He will call for atonement of such sins. Those who live by hate and corruption shall receive an eternity of darkness, but those who live by His Word shall receive an eternity of love.

Blessed are those who live by His commandments, for they do not bring harm, they do not bring anguish, they do not take what is not offered, they do not gossip or speak falsely of another, they do not bear false witness to achieve their agendas, they do not spread misery. Instead, they offer help to those who are less fortunate. They seek to spread blessings of love. They seek to build joy in the hearts which surround them. Happiness is the fruit of their hands and the blessing of their tongue. Where they walk, the love of God is shared.

Some do not see their wickedness. They believe what they do is justified by the ways of the world, for they are ignorant of the true ways of God. Those who live in faith and by the blessing of His Word turn away from worldly sin. They are able to see the anguish fueled by hate and the harm which is spawned by selfish pursuits. They see there is no peace for those who walk wicked paths.

Those who allow themselves to be guided by God preach through the fruits of their labor and the blessings they share. They do not waste energy harboring offenses, but move on to happier days through the serenity of forgiveness. The depth of their power comes less through what they speak, but more through the fruits of what they do.

Though the wicked scheme to hide their iniquities, God has given the people the means to test the virtue of every action. If the end consequence of what is spoken or what is done yields love of God or the blessing of love to a child of His creation, then, what is spoken or what is done is right and just. What is accomplished in love is pleasing to Him. If we examine His commandments, we will see they are designed so that all the children of His creation may live in love and share in peace.

The evil one will seek to camouflage evil works through appearances of good, but what is done speaks louder than what is said. Evil cannot pass the test of love. The people may be blinded through the promises of good intentions, but it is the end consequence which must be examined. If what is said, is said with compassion and in private to warn another of the path they follow, and said in love to protect the soul; then, it is right and just. If what is said, is said to demonstrate superiority or to humiliate another, but without love or compassion to protect the soul; then, the words become daggers of evil. If one who walks a dangerous path leaves no other recourse than for another who cares to raise the alarm in public; though it may humiliate, yet, the end consequence is done with love to protect the soul; then, what is spoken is right and just. God knows what is in the heart of the one who speaks and the one who acts. While the corrupted heart is not always easily seen, it cannot be hidden from God.

If we are in doubt as to whether what we do or what we fail to do is in love, then, we must trust that He has sent the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth and what is right and just. If we pray for Him to guide us, He will not deny us; but we must also leave our hearts open to His answer. If we cloud our soul with our agendas, the ends we seek to satisfy our desires rather than His will, we may become deaf and blind to what we receive from Him. If we seek to clear our soul so that His will may be done, He will guide our words and our hands. We will be filled with the wisdom of His love and He will light our path. Blessed are those who seek Him in prayer, for He knows our every need; but it is through prayer, we let Him know we care and we open our heart to receive His answer.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier