“The Wednesday Word” Devotional & Podcast
We thought it would be a great idea to have a mid-week recap & refresh of Pastor David’s Sunday sermon. Let’s make sure that we are learning all we can from them!
Pastor David’s Wednesday devotional will be related to the Sunday sermon in some way. It could be an expansion on a theme, a different twist, or some kind of content related to Sunday’s sermon. Various staff members and parishioners will gather to discuss the devotional and how it relates to our lives and maybe give some practical application of the word.
You can listen to the audio version in your car, while doing housework, during your workout, or whenever is most convenient for you. We want you to be able to access it at any time that is the right time for you to have a few minutes to read and reflect on it.
Devotional Text
Pastor Lee’s devotional for February 9, 2022
“Loving the Unlovable”
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48
Who are the people in your life that you find difficult to love?
In our life’s journey, it’s almost impossible to avoid difficult and very unlovable people. They can be found in our family, friends, work companions, even on the world stage that comes to us in the news.
Jesus leaves us with no “escape clause” when he tells us we must love the ultimate unlovable person – one we consider our enemy! This is one of those really tough sayings in the Bible. Maybe we can do the “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but love our enemies? That just makes no sense to us; we want to get rid of our enemies. But it makes sense to Jesus.
Why do you think Jesus told us to do that? Do you feel it’s something you can do?
Over and over, Jesus demonstrates how he loves the unlovable – the foreigners, the sinners, the Romans, the pagans, the untouchables. He makes no distinction in who can and should be loved. His love offers an unconditional care for everyone. That is tough standard to live up to. As committed followers of Jesus, it is a level to grow to in our spiritual journey.
To help us in this journey, Pastor Lee gave us three things to remember. How do you feel these might help?
1. We need to believe all people can change.
2. We can’t expect people to change but we can hope they will.
3. Loving, or not loving, speaks directly to our values.
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