Matthew 7:12
"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."
Matthew 22:35-40
35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' [Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the beginning of the Shema, a prayer offered by our Jewish sisters and brothers as they enter and leave their homes and rise in the morning and sleep at night] 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' [Jesus is quoting from Leviticus 19:18] 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Habits to develop:
1. Show mercy!
- "Jesus offers mercy because of who GOD is." [from The Jesus Priorities]
- "The ability to treat others with mercy regardless of how they treat us requires that our actions flow from principles, not circumstance...we were not designed in the image of God to be reactive. We don't have to let circumstance or emotions determine our responses." [from The Jesus Priorities]
2. Forgive without limits!
- "No act lies beyond forgiveness." [from The Jesus Priorities]
- examine the story of the woman who washed Jesus' feet (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8)
- Jesus forgave sins and affirmed faith. We are called to do the same. (Matthew 16:19; 18:18)
3. Love others as God loves!
- Matthew 7:12 (see above)
- Read the story in Matthew 25:31-46.
- "The lesson of this story cannot be misinterpreted. Jesus' message is twofold: (1) all humans are worthy of and in need of God's love; and (2) all humans are accountable for offering God's love to others." [from The Jesus Priorities]
- Love is the fundamental act God seeks from our freedom to choose.
Questions for reflection:
- Who needs your mercy?
- How have you been shown mercy?
- Who is the one person in your life with whom you would most like to be reconciled?
- How are you called to love as God loves? How are you called to be an extension of God's love?
3 comments:
1. Who needs your mercy/
There is a friend I used to have and we are in stauts quo right now, because she doesn't know what she wnats because she is physically and mentally sick. I think she needs to be shown mercy and love at this point among other things.
2. How have you been shown mercy?
Through my parents showing me love and how to act throught the Bible and through acts that my dad does from his different mission trips he has been on through the church.
3. Who is the one person in your life with whom you would like to most be reconciled?
My friend who right now we are stauts quo. Things are on hold.
4. How are you called to love as God loves? How are you called to be an extension of God's love?
Through doing good works, such as helping with a local food pantry or a local mission in the area. Or just by every day people in our lives and using the Bible as an example.
Who needs your mercy
My mother is a bitter, angry woman who holds nothing back. Hateful words can just pour out of her mouth.
How have you been shown mercy?
I guess from my father. He had to live with my mother for 60 years and would never leave because for some reason he always saw the good somewhere deep inside my mother. Before he passed away he had me promise to try to see the good and not give up on my mother.
Who is the one person in your life with whom you would like to most be reconciled?
My mother, I keep trying even though I still hear the hateful commits.
How are you called to love as God Loves? How are you called to be an extesion of God's love?
I just try to be the best I can be. I try everyday to be a good person. It's hard sometimes, but you just have to keep trying because that is what God wants us to do, be nice, love and follow the rules.
Thanks for giving me the strength to finally take part. I was scared to death. First time I did it, my message didn't come across " computer idiot " you know.
Glad I tried again.
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