This study was first taught on May 26, 2010

Topic: God’s Standard for Living With Others (3)

No audio available for this study.

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Background
In the second installment of God’s standard for living with others, which we studied last week, we saw that God wants Christians to be His representatives here on earth. Hence, it is His desire that Christians would be the extensions of His heart and hands, not only toward other Christians in need, but also, toward the world as a whole.

We said that everyone who truly believes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ must be rid of selfishness and self-centeredness in his heart; and must have and show compassion from his heart towards others. We also said that our acts of giving to those who ask of us must be without prejudice, grudge, or the feeling that those who are asking are being lazy; rather, we are to leave that judgment to God. We noted that spiritual acts like fasting and prayer are meaningless without a commensurate show of mercy and compassion; which must be in line with heaven’s standard: cheerfully, not by compulsion.

We further noted the abundant reward which God promises us when we show kindness to others: speedy recovery in time of sickness, abundance in our own lives, and the guarantee of eternal life, among others. Finally, we said that we need to ask God to give us hearts of compassion towards others, especially those we don’t know, and those who cannot repay any favours for our kindness toward them.

Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 5:43-47
From our scripture text tonight, it is clear that God is not only interested in us being extensions of His heart and hands, but indeed being His ‘alter ego’. May the Holy Spirit help us to make the adjustments that we need to make in order to show people who God truly is.
The Lord Jesus tells us to love our enemies, contrary to what we have believed (hate your enemies). He then amplifies what He means by giving us ways by which we show that we love our enemies: bless those who curse you; do good to those who hate you; pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you. He then goes on to let us know that what He is asking of us is what God does on a regular basis (every day, every hour, every moment, everywhere).
Leviticus 19:18; Exodus 23:4-5; Proverbs 24:17-18; Romans 12:20-21 (Proverbs 25:21-22); Acts 7:59-60; Matthew 26:47-56; 2 Kings 6:8-23; 2 Chronicles 28:8-15; Luke 9:51-56; 10:25-37; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; John 11:1-6; 3:16; Romans 5:6-8; Leviticus 19:34; 1 John 4:7-20; 5:3; 2 Corinthians 12:15; Romans 5:5.

Conclusion
It is indeed a sobering truth that many who say that they are children of God, are anything but. It is sad that we have imbibed the principles of the world which are; to seek vendetta for wrong done to us, to repay evil for evil, and to hate our enemies.

Tonight, we have seen clearly from the word of God as told by the Lord Himself, that we are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who despitefully use us and persecute us. Nowhere did God institute a holy war to compel people to accept Him; rather, He insists that we do good to overcome evil.

The issue of “who is a neighbour?” is also something that we have seen to be contrary to our own understanding. A neighbour is in effect any human being. A neighbour is not just someone living next to your house, but someone who inhabits the earth with you. These are the people that God expects us to show His nature of love to, regardless of whether they show us kindness or not.

Love is not just the nature of God, but it is God personified. Love must not be interpreted in the myopic sense of romance, or brotherly love; but in the broad sense of ‘agape’ or charity. Agape is the love that does not respond on the basis of what others have done for you, but that does things for the benefit of all, regardless of their response. This kind of love is what truly makes us the children of God, for it is of God, and is shed abroad in our hearts by His Spirit which is in us.

Only in this way can we truly manifest the personality of God here on earth; and be indeed, the children of the Most High God!

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