SCRIPTURE:
1
Peter 1:3-25
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you
must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being
tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious
than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will
bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is
revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do
not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible
joy. 9 The
reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
We
love Him even though we have never seen Him. We trust Him wholeheartedly
without ever having seen Him, the reward for this will be a priceless
inheritance, one waiting for us when we get to heaven.
Because
we love God, we must live in obedience, striving to continuously please Him, to
live holy, and not look back to our old ways. 1 Peter 1:14 says we shouldn't
long for old things or go back to old habits, for we didn't know better then,
but we know better now.
God
gave his son for us, that we might be redeemed from our past sins. We must show
that same love with those around us. Give yourself for others and to others,
and never get tired of doing good.
As a
child of the Most High God, you have His spirit living within you. Listen to
His spirit, and listen to everything you're told to do. He knows what’s best
for you, because he created you and because he loves you. He wants you to love
Him back. Not just by saying it, but by showing it. He needs you show it by
doing what he says. What does he say? Love your neighbour as he has loved us.
Never get tired of doing good. If anyone takes your shirt, offer your coat as
well. If you get slapped, offer the other cheek also. (Matt 5:40)
Jesus
didn't necessarily mean the latter in the literal sense, but rather in the
sense that we shouldn't be moved or provoked when people provoke us. Always be
calm, and love them anyway. Pray for those who persecute you. I agree it is
definitely easier said than done, but remember that revenge is His, says the
Almighty God (Deut 32:35).
So
always show compassion, not just to Christians, but to non-Christians. Don’t
just help your neighbor because he’s a Christian, help other neighbors that
aren't Christians also. How else would they get to know about your God if they
don't see Him reflected in you and in your actions?
If you
love God, then love your neighbor. And if you love God, strive to please and
obey Him. Our love for God should fill us with an urgency and fervency, with an
eagerness so pure and exhilarating, that we feel as though we'd burst with
unspeakable joy.
Love
God. Seek His face. Do His will. And you shall be duly rewarded.
Selah
