“…Love…Bless…Do Good…Pray…  (Part of Matthew 5:44)

Reader,
The above passage or portion thereof is the Biblical definition of love. The definition of love is defined in a deeper sense in 1 Corinthians 13. The definition from Matthew 5:44 will serve our purposes today as we have hopes of writing an exposition on 1 Corinthians 13 in the future, (DV).

We do not go to malls very often but I do shop in convenience stores often and the local Walmart on occasion and other local stores. One thing all of these stores have in common is, “Have a nice day, Thank you for shopping with us” or something similar. Then as prompted persons or customers will reply, “Thank you, you too.”

The sad truth is however, that most of the time no one really means it. That is not to say that it is hoped that the other has a bad day. Most persons are indifferent to the other persons day. This is not saying anything negative about either person on either side of the check out. The “Have a nice day” and the “You, too” are merely social constructs.

In a family owned business or in the small business the owners are usually very thankful for business and their, “Thank you” is probably meant. Another reason the greetings are not truly meant in larger stores is because the purchase that was just made makes very little difference to the clerk. We are not speaking evil or negative about anyone or anything, you understand. This is simply how things are. It is what it is.

However, on the Christ-ian side of things, “these things ought not to be.” When the Christ-ian hears from a clerk, “Thank you and have a nice day,”  The Christ-ian should take the time to share their hope that this person has a good day whether or not the person meant it or not. We should take the time to “love our neighbor.” We should, regardless of the other persons sincerity or lack thereof, hope that God’s blessing would fall upon this “neighbor.” We should take the time to wish them, “Godspeed.” We, as Christ-ians should let this neighbor know that they are important and acknowledge their service.

After we depart and get into our car we should, before driving away, seek God’s blessings and Godspeed for that clerk through prayer and spiritual thoughts. This beloved, is biblical love.

Another way to love your neighbor, the store’s clerk, is by sharing Christ with them by leaving them a tract and an invitation to church.

This way of loving the neighbor can be expanding to every person you pass in the street or in the market. As you pass someone and you say or hear, “Good morning,”  “Hello,”  “Hi,”  “Good afternoon/evening/night, etc.” take time and pray or seek God to bless that person. If you observe someone having a bad day, pray for them and if you have the courage tell them. Tell them, “I have noticed that you are having a rough go of it today. I am sorry for that. I have prayed for you.” Whether this person is a believer or not they will never forget that moment as long as they will live.

The Benefits of Loving One’s Neighbor:
* You will be obeying Christ’s commands. * You will do as Christ has done. * You will be setting up treasures in heaven. * You will be spending time with God by praying for these persons. * You will become a more caring and loving person and more Christ-like. * You will be using your time well and circumspectfully. * You will grow in grace. * You will be making a difference in this world via making a difference in someone’s life.

Further Reasons to Love others:
* It has been said, “You may be the only ‘Jesus’ others will ever see.”  * Paul said we, as Christ-ians, are God’s epistles to the world, what are they reading?  * You will grow a sensitivety to the Spirit’s leading and directing. His leading will be unmistakable.  * Readers, Why not do these things?

Who Else should we Love in this way?
We should love our enemies in this same manner. It is true, there are many in this world that are the enemies of Christ and those He has chosen from this world. They hate Christ and His elect…some without even knowing it. Many dislike “goody two shoes” without knowing that the goody two shoes are good because of God. The opponents of the goody two shoes are opponents of God’s righteousness without knowing it. Others hate Christ and His people with full knowledge. There are “evangelical” atheists in the world, did you know that? These militant atheists not only think they disbelieve but seek to make others disbelievers, including professing Christ-ians. Then there are the politicians and persons with influence (progressive democrats, George Soros, Michael Moore, the mainstream progressive media, etc) that seek to overthrow anything that is good or godly. Those that violently oppose authority are also hater of God without knowing it.

Loving without supporting:
God willing, we will stand against the machinations or evil plans of men like Soros, Moore, the media, and the progressive democrats as long as God allows us to. However, if any one of these evil persons fell down during a parade or in front of my home, I would be compelled by Scripture, directed by the Holy Spirit, and constrained by the love of Christ to help that person to the fullest extents of my ability and to do it in the Name of and for the Glory of God.

It is the same with the Catholic Church. I hate/oppose the Catholic church and it’s system. But, I have no negative feelings for the persons in the Catholic church. Many of the men and women that have been canonized, IE. Made saints by the church are, in fact, God made saints. Athanasius, Augustine, Benedict, Aquinas, Francis, Joan of Arc are all Crist-ian saints that believe Biblically or at least the cardinal doctrines of Scripture. Many of the Catholic Mystics are well worth your time. These are they that have been kidnapped by the catholic Church but were true to Scripture. The mystical thing with the mystic is they understood Scripture without, many of them, having any access to the Scriptures!!!
My point being, I am against the Catholic church but I am very much for the persons in the church and from the church’s history.

If the Catholic church were to discard the worship of Mary and other saints, IE idolatry, the belief in transubstantiation, and the general belief in works and the forbidding of marriage they could be on a path to soundness.
We have read much from “catholics” or those that have been claimed by the Catholic church. Athanasius on the Incarnation of our Lord is most excellent. The treatment of the Trinity by Augustine is second to none. Even the pope prior to this pope, IE. false prophet, Pope Benedict or Ratzinger was very sound in his theology even to the point of Salvation being by grace and faith!!! We read somewhere that one of his prized possessions is a leather bound edition of Calvin’s “The Institutes of the Christian Religion.” There is no wondering why he was removed so fast.

You see then, there is no ‘us vs. them’ in the Christ-ian faith. We have no enemies within the faith or within different denominations. Our enemies are of old,Our enemies are the flesh, IE. the carnal nature or the old man, (s)atan, and those that are in league with (s)atan whether they know it or not. Those in league with (s)atan are, as we have written before, The mainstream media, progressive democrats, and those that would degrade the Name of our Lord and Saviour. Those that degrade His Name may be television programs, songs, books, and the cults that deny Christ’s deity, IE. Those that take our LORD’S Name in vain every second of their existence, The Jehovah’s Witnesses, and those who add to and subtract from Scripture, IE. Mormons. These are our enemies because they are enemies to Christ and all that is Righteous.

True Christ-ianity stands united against these enemies of God, yet we will love the individuals that are part of the anti-Christ-ian machine and the anti-Christ-ian world view.

These are our orders from Christ, Himself.