Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Of all the teachings of
the Lord Jesus Christ, none is more contrary to the natural
bent of the human mind than when he told his disciples to love
their enemies and pray for them that despitefully use them. His
words in Matthew 5, 39, But I say unto you that ye resist not evil,
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him
the other also. are seldom quoted or taught without
some explanation which tries to soften its grating sound to
this old sinful flesh. Surely he didn't mean exactly
and simply what he said, did he? I mean, don't I have every
right to haul off and hit someone back if they hit me? The truth
is that I may have that right in the flesh. Yet the Lord said
if we are to be like him, then we must not act like those who
are not his children. The Lord has laid down some very
helpful instructions for our relationships with one another
that not only ensure peace and tranquility for those who heed
them, but set forth an example that He often uses in bringing
men to repentance. Even the hard heart of King Saul
was made tender by the self-denying actions of David. We cannot prevent
the misconduct of others towards us, but we must strive to prevent
misconduct toward others, even if we feel they deserve our wrath. What a revolutionary concept
this is. Think of the harsh words that
could be avoided. Think of the families and churches that would
not be divided. Think of how the divorce rate
would be affected. Think how the Spirit of Christ
would be manifested in the earth. I'm not so naive as to think
that there should be any great clamor to follow these simple
concepts by the multitudes. The Lord never charged his disciples
with changing the world, but he did demand that they change
their behavior towards others. This is my commandment, that
ye love one another as I have loved you. He has not only given
the commandment, but he has set the example. Our love to others
is to be characterized by, number one, being willing to lay our
best interests aside. Why do you not rather take wrong?
Why do you not suffer yourselves to be defrauded? He laid aside
his glory for our sake, taking on himself the likeness of sinful
flesh. As the songwriter said, he had
no tears for his own grief, but sweat drops of blood for mine.
If he cared not for his own comfort, how can we set limits upon the
lengths to which we will go in demonstrating love? What conditions
can we rightly set? Our love to others is to be characterized
secondly by giving without the thought of receiving. But love
ye your enemies and do good and lend, hoping for nothing again.
Too often we give love expecting that we should receive it in
return. When that doesn't happen, we grow bitter and begin to regret
that we gave it in the first place. Love, which is not given
cheerfully with no thought of return, is no love at all. We
are not called to be mutual admirers of one another. Rather, we are
to be the givers of love. Husbands are to love their wives,
whether or not their wives love them. For this is the example
of Christ's love for the Church. Our love to others is to be characterized
by loving the unworthy. But God commendeth His love toward
us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
If we wait to show love until we find someone worthy of it,
we likely will never love anyone at all. He loved us in spite
of our hatred of Him and His way. Our love to others is to
be characterized by loving continually and continuously. Then came Peter
to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against
me and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times, but until
seventy times seven. We must not be looking for an
excuse to lessen our love for our brethren. So if we're going
to exhibit Christ's love in the earth, we cannot wait for others
to act like we think they should act, think like we think they
should think, or become lovable. We must recognize that we can
only modify our behavior and not theirs. This daunting and
frustrating task cannot be accomplished in the power of the flesh, but
he gives grace to help in time of need for those who come to
the throne of grace. Paul said, For I have learned
in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me. May our prayer be for grace
to love others as he loved us. May we be reminded constantly
of the example of our Lord, who, when he was reviled, reviled
not again. When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously. In this was manifested the love
of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son
into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love,
not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son
to be the propitiation for our sins. For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at
windstream.net.