After a while of changing my thinking and considering a different way, Jesus' way, I discovered in study the centrality of Jesus' teachings and commands around AGAPE... This is that upon which the whole New Covenant is built. God's Grace and Mercy are expressions of that Agape. It is not about feelings, but about active commitment on behalf of the other, even stranger and enemy according to Jesus. It is about looking beyond self to other(s) around self. It is about all of us making it not just about ourselves, but looking to the interests of others, as Paul put it (Phil. 2:1-11).
Matthew 22:34-40 introduces this fulfillment of Law and Prophets very clearly. Love for God and love for Neighbor (Agape), is that upon which hang all the Law and Prophets, according to Jesus. It is unconditional and self-sacrificing, as Jesus modeled for us. Love for neighbor is not secondary to love for God, but "just like it", in fact, HOW we love God - by loving others.
In Luke's Gospel (6:38), we learn that we are to love enemy with such love. That love is expressed on how we DO with them. As God is merciful as an expression of Agape in Grace, so are WE to be gracious and merciful with one another. We also learn that in order to live this Agape, we MUST NOT JUDGE and we MUST FORGIVE. These Imperatives of Jesus are integral to the living of Agape, and are such that, when we give them (forgiveness or judgment) we will receive them in kind. Often misused as a "prosperity" text, it is forgiveness or judgment that, when we give, we will receive in "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over...into your lap".
Also in Luke's Gospel (10:25-37), we learn who the neighbor is with whom we are commanded to live this Agape. When looking for loopholes, we must hear Jesus teach us that it is the stranger and enemy who is our neighbor. We are to go to extraordinary lengths to actively commit to that one's well-being, because Jesus commands, "Go and do likewise."
The Golden Rule sums up this Imperative of Jesus. "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Matthew 7:12) This means that we no more want harm or lack come to a stranger or enemy than we want that for ourselves. It means that we treat others in need as we would hope to be treated in need - with help, respect, dignity, acceptance and justice.
This is not easy. It is simple to understand. It is a command. The teachings underscore just how we are to live as followers of Jesus' Agape Love command. It is not hard to understand. It is hard to live. In order to BE followers of Jesus, who modeled this in His ministry and on the Cross, we MUST live it.
I believe that I can spend the rest of my life contemplating, learning about and applying this to my life in every aspect of it (politics, economics, family, work, community, etc.). I can spend the rest of my life learning how to LIVE this Agape Love. It is the call of EVERY person who claims the name of Jesus. It is HIS LAW. It is HIS PROPHETS. It is God's Will.
As the Good Samaritan did and as Jesus did, "Go and do likewise."
Pastor Jamie
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