JOURNAL=2-28-15=BEING PERFECT

JOURNAL=2-28-15=BEING PERFECT




“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES........” Matthew 5:44


JESUS is the EMBODIMENT of God's love-and GOD LOVES each person INFINITELY-regardless of HOW we respond to him-Jesus CALLS US to SHARE our love-IF we are truly his disciples-to LOVE in the same way that he loves


Jesus SAYS:
“BE PERFECT-just as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48


LOVING OUR ENEMIES-those that have done us wrong-and continue to TRY and do us wrong-IS-for me-ONE of the toughest things to do-FORGIVING AND LOVING our enemies is very difficult-and it goes against our natural human response


Jesus also GIVES US another command-and in it-HE TEACHES US to pray, “FORGIVE us........as we forgive” Matthew 6:12-so if you are not forgiving-you are NOT BEING FORGIVEN


And so DEAR LORD-we PRAY for the GRACE to love those who have “TRESPASSED AGAINST US” and to forgive them-and to EXPERIENCE the true MIRACLE of AGAPE' LOVE


it is A GREAT DAY to be ALIVE in GOD'S LOVE FOR US and a great day to find FORGIVENESS in our heart-for those who have HURT US






BEING PERFECT




Are you perfect


NOT just physically perfect
But emotionally perfect
And spiritually perfect


IF you are-CONGRATULATIONS
You are the first person
I have met
WHO is perfect


Other than Jesus
Of course
Who was perfect
SPIRITUALLY


“It is GOD
Who guides me
And makes my way perfect” Psalm 18:32


Me perfect
NOT in
My wildest dreams


Not physically perfect
Not emotionally perfect
And not spiritually perfect


ALTHOUGH I do
My very best
To FOLLOW the ways
Of the Lord


In the 19^th chapter
Of Saint Matthew's gospel
Jesus tells a young man
Who wishes to follow him
WHAT he has to do
In order to be perfect


“Jesus said.....,'IF you wish
To be perfect
GO-sell what you have
And give it to the POOR


And you will have treasure
In heaven


Then
COME FOLLOW ME'


WHEN the young man
Heard this statement


He went away sad
For he had MANY POSSESSIONS” Matthew 19:21-22


Wow-
I can sympathize
With this man


WHO could go
And sell ALL their possessions
ESPECIALLY in today's
ME first society


MAYBE the lesson is
JUST to GIVE as much as we can


GIVE-
At least till it hurts


“EVERY MAN
Shall give
As he is able


ACCORDING to
The BLESSING of the Lord
Thy God
Which he has
GIVEN YOU” Deuteronomy 16:17


And maybe
THE ULTIMATE MEANING
Of Jesus' words


Is an invitation
To give OUR HEART
COMPLETELY TO GOD
And other people


So that
There will be NO ROOM
In our heart
For our possessions


ONE THING
I do know for sure
IS
WE should never stop giving


Because LIVING IS GIVING


And GIVING IS LIVING


And when and if
We give it all away
We will be PERFECT
As the Lord
IS PERFECT


And the truth is
NONE of us
Will be able to do this


So we SHOULD
Just give away
AS MUCH OF OURSELVES
As we possibly can


Robert P. Wallman
August 19^th 2014-at Mount Sinai ON THE BEACH


Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Mitch Finley




9-12-14

2-28-15