Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Inward: Loving Others - Frank Zummo Jr.


God says “love thy neighbor as thyself”!  How are you doing on that one?  Do you drive by your neighbor’s house and murmur about the fact that they never mow their lawn?  Do you wish your other neighbor would fix one of the 9 cars in his driveway? How about our neighbors on the freeway?  Do we always have big love for them?  In today’s time of instant messaging, skyping, and electronic everything, it’s seems easier to just drive by everyone, hit the clicker, drive into the garage, and click it closed behind us!  How about those inside the house with us once we get home?  Do you sometimes wish everyone was quietly and neatly awaiting your arrival, instead of running through the house like wild animals, not even conscious of the fact that you’ve made it home?  Have you ever thought “It would be a lot easier to love them if they acted like normal people”?  Never thought like that?  Me neither!  Well maybe once or twice.

The fact is that we tend to love others conditionally or based on how they act towards us.  But that’s not what God says.  The book of Mathew says “to love those who persecute you”!  Luke says “if someone takes your coat, to give them your shirt too”!  Luke also says “and if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners do that”!  Ouch!!!!!!!! 

The world expects  “an eye for an eye”, or “do unto others before they do unto you”!  But as Christians, we are called to a higher standard.  An “out of this world” standard!  A standard that will cause the world to stop and take notice.  Love your enemies???? “Where did that come from?”   “I’m glad you asked” you can say, “let’s go grab some food, and I’ll tell you all about it”!

Frank P. Zummo

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