“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 children 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? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5: 43-48)
God the Father reached out to us most dramatically through His Son Jesus, who chose not just to visit us, but to become one of us. Born human so we can be reborn in the Spirit, Jesus showed us God’s love and character–and how far God was willing to go to save us from self-destruction. What we could not do for ourselves, He did for us, paying the price for our sins, dying in our place so we can live forever. He conquered death through resurrection, and promised to return to take us home.
Meanwhile, God has not left us alone. The Holy Spirit is here to comfort us, guide us and transform us to live as witnesses for God’s love. The same Spirit who inspired prophets and empowered Jesus, who shaped scripture and created the world, enables and empowers each one of us. The Spirit activates the “body of Christ,” the church, through spiritual gifts and a humble attitude of service and compassion.
Sometimes we can say that we serve God (Allah) but we have mistreated one of God’s children. Jesus taught that when we come to worship God we should come with a clean conscience that we have done everything within our power to make things right when we have hurt someone. This does not mean that people will always be willing to accept us. They may still hate us but at least we have tried to do what was right.
God’s people should reflect God’s love and that’s why we should try to live at peace with all people.If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20.
It’s a serious thing to hate someone. We can hate people’s mean and evil ways without hating them.Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (الإنجيل 1 يوحنا 3: 15).
The clear teaching of Jesus and the Injil is that we are to harbor anger or hatred toward no one. We should have s true sense of God’s love and reflect it to others.
لمزيد من الدراسة:
1. الرغبة في الوقوف بمفردنا حتى لو كان الآخرون يكرهوننا الإنجيل لوقا 14: 26
2. محبة الله الإنجيل 1 يوحنا 4: 8
3. عندما يسيء الناس إلينا ويكرهوننا لأننا نتبع الله الإنجيل متى 5: 10
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” متى : 6: 14-15
It is very important to remember this wisdom because often times we are not quick to forgive. But according to Jesus, who reveals Allah’s character, we are to possess a forgiving spirit. Jesus goes so far as to say that we should forgive our offender 70 x 7(seventy times seven). Matthew 18:21-22.