JUST LOVE

I had the most precious grandmother who was known for the love she had for everyone. My grandfather was an "Old Time Gospel" Baptist Preacher. He could out-preach the best of them with his "hail, fire and brimstone" sermons. And, my precious polar-opposite grandmother would temper his words by saying, "JUST LOVE". I still remember her standing up in church and looking around at everyone and say “You just gotta’ love.” If those sweet words were relevant to us back then – how much more are they needed today?

I heard such a beautiful message last night that stirred my heart so much. It was all about LOVE -- God’s love for us and the love we should have for each other. Luke 10:25-37 was read where Jesus had been approached by a lawyer trying to put Jesus to the test. He said, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Then the lawyer asked Jesus “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus commenced to tell him the “Good Samaritan” story. A man had been robbed, stripped, beaten and left half dead. A priest saw him and walked on by. A Levite saw him and passed on by. But a Samaritan known for their own questionable ways, came to where the man was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. We know the rest of the story where he poured oil on his wounds and took him to an inn and told the innkeeper to take care of him and he would pay for everything. Jesus asked the lawyer, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” There lies the answer for all of us. Whether the people in our lives and in our world are close friends, family or enemies, as children of God, we should show mercy and love for everyone.

How can we LOVE when there is so much wrong in the world? Grace. God treats us -- not with what we deserve, but He treats us with loving-kindness and mercy. GOD IS LOVE -- and that means He is good to those who deserve it as well as to those who don't deserve it. His love embraces saints AND sinners. As His children, doesn't it make sense that our love for others should be marked by the same kindness and mercy that God has given us?

How can we possibly love those who are just plain evil? With the response that He had for Saul and Zaccheas and the thief on the cross. "WITH GOD, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. In our own strength, it will be impossible, but in His strength and in His love, our hurts, fears and prejudices can be conquered. Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the cruelty of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment. His cross gives us the courage to return evil with good.

We have a choice. To be a hater or a lover; to be angry or joyful; to be a finger pointer or a forgiver.

"Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
In the words of my sweet grandmother....."JUST LOVE!"