Love Anyway

Matthew 10:40-42 - “Whoever receives you, receives Me. Whoever receives Me, receives Him Who sent Me. Whoever receives a preacher who speaks for God because he is a preacher, will get the reward of a preacher who speaks for God. Whoever receives a man right with God, because he is a man right with God, will get the reward of a man right with God.  For sure, I tell you, anyone who gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he follows Me, will not lose his reward.”

 

Jesus had called his disciples to him and charged them with going out and doing the same work he had modeled for them. He gave them all authority to heal….cast out demons…..and preach the news that the Kingdom of God was near.  He told them to give freely as they had been given to….and not concern themselves with what to take with them or where to stay. God would provide all that they needed while they were about his work.

 

He warned them that it would not be an easy task.  Many people would treat them badly…reject the love they tried to share with them. He told them to move swiftly through as many cities as they could …reaching as many Jews as they could. They should remember to never fear the things that could hurt or kill their physical bodies….what mattered was the spirit that only God could give life or death.

 

What a great reminder that the key to being an effective disciple is our attitude toward what we have been asked to do for Christ.  Our effectiveness is not measured by the number of people who think we are right….but the attitude with which we share what he has given us to share.  We should give freely from the resources he has blessed us…with no thought of any return. The seeds we plant with our testimonies of what he has done for us may not grow till sometime after we have planted them. It reminds me of the poem credited to mother Theresa….who clearly understood this concept:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that what I do for you is purely because I love you…and that should compel me to love all people…regardless of how they treat me or receive me. Forgive me for being that person who picked and chose who to love and what kind of love to show them.  Widen my concept of love this morning…and give me a compassion to love all people…no matter what I get in return.  Amen.