Tip the Scales

 

~~~ Exodus 1:8-14, 22 ~~~ Psalm 124 ~~~ Matthew 10:34—11:1 ~~~

 

Jesus broadened the scope, by showing us

 that our neighbor may be a stranger.

While this seems contradictory, it is what Jesus

gives us to reflect upon.

 

If a stranger can be considered our neighbor

worthy of our compassion;

then our family may likewise be a source of evil.

Sometimes the best way to get your point across

 is to polarize the issue at hand.

Presenting the extremes helps us to identify where we fall in between

or where we want to strive towards.

 

Jesus said to his Apostles:
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth.
I have come to bring not peace but the sword.

 

The sword????

 

Jesus wants to rid the world of darkness...of all evil influences.

He uses examples concerning those we may not even consider...

fathers, mothers, daughters, sons etc.

 

Our true peace does not lie within our family members.

Our true peace lies within our personal relationship with God.

Can we honestly say that we love God above all else?

 

 

We are being invited to evaluate our personal relationship with others.

 

Consider how much you love your parents.

Consider how much you love your siblings.

Consider how much you love your spouse.

Consider how much you love your children.

 

Imagine that no matter how great your love is for others in your life;

you must love God even more.

 

This is hard to determine because love

is not something we can measure.

Love initially springs forth from the heart via chemicals

released into the blood stream.

We have the feelings associated with 'being in love'.

Eventually as these chemicals dissipate

we must use our mind to make the intention to love.

 

The chemical induced love cannot sustain our love for another.

Loving God requires effort on our part

because we are constantly being presented with reasons not to love.

 

We fall into the trap of blaming God for whatever

does not go well in our lives.

There are so many temptations in this world hiding in plain sight

that we actually miss them.

 

Jesus tells his disciples...open your mind...

expand your vision of that which is good,

 but also of that which is potentially evil.

 

We live in a world where it sometimes appears

that evil is stronger than good.

We must make the commitment to live in such a way

as to have no doubt

of our intentional commitment

to that which is good.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

 

Our Blessings come in

what we do to make love stronger than evil.

How are we living our conviction

 to love God above all else

and our neighbor as ourselves?

 

This week be aware

 of how you can love with greater depth.

Tip the scales with your love for what is of God.