Baku, Azerbaijan
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Gal. 5. 22-23)
Dear brothers and sisters!
From ancient times people have sung of love. Usually we tend to speak and think about love as something romantic or sublime. Sometimes the word “love” is associated with warm or tender feelings toward those who are close to us.
But Jesus gave us a special perspective on this feeling and a unique understanding of true love. First of all, He open up for us the way of Divine love, calling us to love God. Our love to the Heavenly Father is expressed in that we become capable of dedicating our wholes selves to God, to give him the central, most important place in our lives. It can be said that we love God when we dedicate to him everything that he gave us in the first place – our heart, our strength, or mind.
Second, Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. True love is expressed in sincere care for people, in mercy and in compassion – even for our enemies. God has created all people according to his image and likeness; He loves every one of us equally. To love means to humbly serve our neighbor, to build bridges of friendship and mutual respect and to not destroy our relationship with others around us through anger or heartlessness.
To love as Christ commanded us means to have the ability to find the power and desire to do good, for everyone, even our enemies, independent of how the other person treats us. Even if someone offends or disgraces you, you should not stoop down to his level. Try to achieve the art of love for fellow man and with your whole heart “love you enemy.”
The feeling of love arises not only from the mind, but also comes from the heart; it is not only a result of our will, but it is, to a large degree, from our feelings. We can make this conscious effort only with God's help. After all it is sometimes difficult to understand the deep meaning of Christ's words about forgiving one's enemies. Even if they wish evil for us, we Christians should answer with good! According to Christ, the world will know that we are His disciples if we will love each other with such a love.
But do we love each other with the love of God? Maybe having read these words someone will say to himself - “Yes, I love my friends and love my enemies as well!” But is that really the case? Are we really able to love one another when we sometimes can't even share the land which has been given to us as a temporary dwelling? How can we be happy if every day we read about how many victims were taken by cruel wars and thoughtless arguments in order to gain territory? How can we talk about mercy if brother rises up against brother? What is happening today with us and with our world? Have you ever asked yourself – why is the world so cruel? Why don't people care for those who are like them?
I am not a politician or a judge. But as a believer I cannot look ignore what is happening with my brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia. How can I be happy when my friends are in tears, when they loose those who are close to them?
The Bible says - “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4.20-21)
Someday each of us will leave this world behind. As we cross over the barrier from life, we take nothing with us – not our wealth, nor our glory, not our power. On the earth there is one Lord and ruler – the Lord God. We should not worry about our temporary earthly wealth and enjoyments; we should not participate in war for land and wealth. We should think now about life eternal. Nuclear weapons and violence should not control the world. Love, compassion, happiness and long patience should find their place in society through us. After all our true home is not here, but in heaven in the dwelling place of our Heavenly Father. Jesus reminds us : “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16.33). Amen.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Gal. 5. 22-23)
Dear brothers and sisters!
From ancient times people have sung of love. Usually we tend to speak and think about love as something romantic or sublime. Sometimes the word “love” is associated with warm or tender feelings toward those who are close to us.
But Jesus gave us a special perspective on this feeling and a unique understanding of true love. First of all, He open up for us the way of Divine love, calling us to love God. Our love to the Heavenly Father is expressed in that we become capable of dedicating our wholes selves to God, to give him the central, most important place in our lives. It can be said that we love God when we dedicate to him everything that he gave us in the first place – our heart, our strength, or mind.
Second, Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. True love is expressed in sincere care for people, in mercy and in compassion – even for our enemies. God has created all people according to his image and likeness; He loves every one of us equally. To love means to humbly serve our neighbor, to build bridges of friendship and mutual respect and to not destroy our relationship with others around us through anger or heartlessness.
To love as Christ commanded us means to have the ability to find the power and desire to do good, for everyone, even our enemies, independent of how the other person treats us. Even if someone offends or disgraces you, you should not stoop down to his level. Try to achieve the art of love for fellow man and with your whole heart “love you enemy.”
The feeling of love arises not only from the mind, but also comes from the heart; it is not only a result of our will, but it is, to a large degree, from our feelings. We can make this conscious effort only with God's help. After all it is sometimes difficult to understand the deep meaning of Christ's words about forgiving one's enemies. Even if they wish evil for us, we Christians should answer with good! According to Christ, the world will know that we are His disciples if we will love each other with such a love.
But do we love each other with the love of God? Maybe having read these words someone will say to himself - “Yes, I love my friends and love my enemies as well!” But is that really the case? Are we really able to love one another when we sometimes can't even share the land which has been given to us as a temporary dwelling? How can we be happy if every day we read about how many victims were taken by cruel wars and thoughtless arguments in order to gain territory? How can we talk about mercy if brother rises up against brother? What is happening today with us and with our world? Have you ever asked yourself – why is the world so cruel? Why don't people care for those who are like them?
I am not a politician or a judge. But as a believer I cannot look ignore what is happening with my brothers and sisters in Ukraine and Russia. How can I be happy when my friends are in tears, when they loose those who are close to them?
The Bible says - “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4.20-21)
Someday each of us will leave this world behind. As we cross over the barrier from life, we take nothing with us – not our wealth, nor our glory, not our power. On the earth there is one Lord and ruler – the Lord God. We should not worry about our temporary earthly wealth and enjoyments; we should not participate in war for land and wealth. We should think now about life eternal. Nuclear weapons and violence should not control the world. Love, compassion, happiness and long patience should find their place in society through us. After all our true home is not here, but in heaven in the dwelling place of our Heavenly Father. Jesus reminds us : “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16.33). Amen.
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