Made Perfect by our Love

But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'. For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Why is our ‘Yes’ only ‘Yes’ when it fits within our comfort zone, and our ‘No’ only ‘No’ until it affects the way we live?

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

We are called to live as peace makers even when those around us choose hostility.

If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

We are called to live with grace and mercy as it has been bestowed upon us in such abundance. Our conveniences and comforts have become our ‘rights’. However, if we were able to see and choose between being given what was ‘rightfully’ ours and being given grace and mercy, we would always choose the latter. Why do we not portray this aspect of Christ to the world?

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…

We are called to be love givers as we have experienced the greatest, most profound love that has ever existed. We are not given the permission to choose whom we will and will not love. We must love even our enemies and do good to them; yes, this includes our foreign enemies as well as our local ones.

…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, servant hood, humility: these things are the antithesis of comfort and convenience. We too often dictate these character traits by how much we will have to sacrifice, when the entire purpose of them all is to sacrifice one’s self in order to show Christ to the world. We are not made perfect by our knowledge, nor by our ‘good intentions’. We are made perfect by our love.