Tuesday, December 25, 2007

"On these two commandments depend the whole Law "...

I have recently been inspired to write on a concept that is central to Christianity; and that my brothers and sisters, is to "love they neighbor as thyself." We all know this saying. It is known as the "Golden Rule" and is observed even in some secular circles. However, do we all show that we love our neighbor? Do we treat our neighbor the way that we would like to be treated? Certainly we recognize it when others fail to keep this law.
How? It's blatanly obvious when someone treats another person badly, unjustly ot improperly. WE ALL KNOW IT. We even talk about it with our friends because it makes an impression on us. You see, the way you treat others makes an impression on those around you. Oh, but it goes further than that, your actions to other people DEFINE in the minds of others, WHO you ARE as a person. We all know that someone in the group who loves to pick apart someone else. They just can't stand that person and every opportunity they get, they just lambast that person until they have expunged every vulgar, vitriolic comment they can make. Let me ask you this then, did you laugh? Did you nod your head in silent agreement? Or did you just jump right in and bash the person too? We all know the answer: yes. Of course we did. But, did you ever stop and consider that your very words could be KILLING the person you dislike?

Follow me here. You are literally DESTROYING someone's character and someone's very being by making these comments. In effect, you are killing that person in the minds of those around you. And that is the desired effect of course. But, did you stop and think about how it feels when, all of a sudden, it's you they're talking about. It's you they're making fun of and it's you they're KILLING. No, I guess not. You see brothers, we are the same group of people who talked about someone else behind His back, made fun of someone when He wasn't there to defend Himself, murdered someone who DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE! You know who I'm talking about. Jesus Christ was crucified because of people like you! People who failed to stand for the truth and for what was right, "luke-warms" who just occupied space and nodded in agreement with everything that was said. And what's more, played both sides of the fence, agreeing with one person to his face, then denying and destroying him behind his back.
If this sounds like you, it is time for you to come to Jesus and confess your part in putting him on that cross. Tell him you're sorry for how badly you have treated other people. Repent of the way you have been living. Others, maybe you exude the golden rule. Maybe you treat others exactly how you like to be treated. But maybe, even you slip up every now and again. You too, do not consider yourself higher than you ought, lest you decieve yourself. In closing, I want to say that I have addressed something that God put on my heart. I hope that all who read this little seromn, take it to heart and heed its warning and follow Christs simple command to 1) Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind. and 2) LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.

"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
ROMANS 13:10

No comments: