We as teenagers encounter many things in our lives. Of the many, two of these encounters are conflict and persecution. We argue with people, insult them, and are insulted back. We start to make enemies with our insults and arguments. We start to hate them. At that time, we should remember to love our enemies.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48
Jesus said, If we only love our neighbors, we have nothing to gain because they already love us back. If we love our enemies, we can gain their love. With the love of our enemies, we become brothers and sisters. Only with love, can you change the minds of your enemies. Love is very powerful and beautiful.
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1st Corinthians 13:4-8
We should never forget to love. Love is a many splendored thing!
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1st Corinthians 13:13
Also, not only should we love our neighbors and enemies. We need to love Jesus as well. Our love for God and Jesus should be the strongest.
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:37-39
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Faith
Complete faith in Jesus Christ doesn't come easy.
Saya Latt once told me a story:
A man was walking along a narrow path, not paying much attention to where he was going. Suddenly he slipped over the edge of a cliff. As he fell, he grabbed a branch growing from the side of the cliff. Realizing that he couldn't hang on for long, he called for help. The man said, "Is anybody up there?" A voice replied, "Yes, I am here!" "Who are you?" "The Lord." "Lord, help me!" "Do you trust me?" "I trust you completely, Lord." "Good. Let go of the branch." "What?" "I said, let go of the branch!" After a long pause, the man asked, "Is there anybody else up there?"
Although the man said he had complete faith in The Lord, he could not trust him for his salvation.
Another story comes from the book of Matthew:
23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him
The disciples were afraid of the storm and did not trust Jesus for he was sleeping, but Jesus awoke and calmed the storms.
These stories show how weak our faith in Jesus can be. We can find situations in our own lives where we were that that man on the branch or the disciples on the boat. Our faith should always be strong. Although there are storms and tough situations throughout our lives, we should always remain faithful to God. Our faith in God is challenged everyday, at school and at work, but we must rise above these challenges and give glory to God to the highest.
Saya Latt once told me a story:
A man was walking along a narrow path, not paying much attention to where he was going. Suddenly he slipped over the edge of a cliff. As he fell, he grabbed a branch growing from the side of the cliff. Realizing that he couldn't hang on for long, he called for help. The man said, "Is anybody up there?" A voice replied, "Yes, I am here!" "Who are you?" "The Lord." "Lord, help me!" "Do you trust me?" "I trust you completely, Lord." "Good. Let go of the branch." "What?" "I said, let go of the branch!" After a long pause, the man asked, "Is there anybody else up there?"
Although the man said he had complete faith in The Lord, he could not trust him for his salvation.
Another story comes from the book of Matthew:
23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"
26He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him
The disciples were afraid of the storm and did not trust Jesus for he was sleeping, but Jesus awoke and calmed the storms.
These stories show how weak our faith in Jesus can be. We can find situations in our own lives where we were that that man on the branch or the disciples on the boat. Our faith should always be strong. Although there are storms and tough situations throughout our lives, we should always remain faithful to God. Our faith in God is challenged everyday, at school and at work, but we must rise above these challenges and give glory to God to the highest.
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