But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Luke 6:35
By nature we are selfish. I live in my head, so everything I see is through the lens of my perspective, experience and environment. This isn’t rocket science, it’s the reality of my human carnal being. To be otherwise is a choice. This scripture has been flagged as the Golden Rule, but Jesus goes way beyond the boundaries of being a good citizen and neighbor. He transformed people’s lives, not to make the socially respectable, but Kingdom ready.
We focus a great deal on the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, but Christmas is about Heaven coming to earth in LIVING color so we can witness Jesus living out the Holiness we are called to. As to that death and resurrection, the reality is, everyone won’t believe. Yet, Jesus came as a humble child so He could live and die to offer the opportunity to everyone.
The emotions involved in being cheated, under compensated or exploited are real, but they are an obstacle to our faith, hope and love.Those we might minister or testify to will see this in our behaviors. The wise follow Jesus’ model, do right and expect nothing in return. Failed expectations rob us of joy. So live simply and joyously.
Love,
Gretchen