The Daily Nugget

Hi All

At the heart of Christianity lies God's love,which is unconditional, unfailing,all-encompassing and one of total commitment and is a core characteristic of God. He expresses it through forgiveness, sacrifice(the greatest being Jesus death on the cross) and it comes with the promise of eternal life to all who believe(John 3:15). As Christians we are called to show the same love to others as God shows us, which means we need to be willing to love the unlovable and forgive those who have hurt us and to be selfless and always willing to put others' needs before our own( Philippians 2:3-4). These are things that we all struggle to achieve and Jesus knew this that is why He tells us “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you”(John 14:26).The “Helper” dwells within all believers to guide us, teach us and enable us to forgive and love even those who seem undeserving.

Be Blessed and Encouraged

Showing The Real Love of God

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

(Matthew 5:44)

"BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD."

(Romans 12:20, NASB)

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day hated their enemies and taught their followers to do the same. But Jesus addressed this incorrect practice in the Sermon on the Mount(Matthew 5-7)The Pharisees had taken an Old Testament command to love one’s neighbour (Leviticus 19:18) and added these words: “and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43). The Old Testament does not teach hating one’s enemies. In fact, it teaches just the opposite: being kind to your enemies (Exodus 23:4-5). So Jesus called out the Pharisees and their rewriting of Leviticus 19:18 and corrected it. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matthew 5:44). Both Stephen (Acts 7:59-60) and Jesus (Luke 23:34) prayed that God would forgive those who were putting them to death. For us our “enemies” can be anyone who may have hurt us either by something they said or something they may have done, but with Jesus' guidance we can love our enemies as Jesus loves us. In the words of Corrie Ten Boom "You never so touch the ocean of God’s love as when you forgive and love your enemies”