Valentine’s Day brings love to mind. Love reminds us of Jesus. So, FJ thinks about Jesus, love, and Valentine’s Day. He shows how Jesus exhorts us to treat our enemies and then declares that rewards will follow.
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Luke 6:35-38
36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Tremendous rewards benefit people who love as Jesus Christ teaches in the Bible. The following verses are a sample representation of what awaits believers who practice the Lord’s teaching.
| How to Treat Your Enemies | Rewards of God’s Love |
|---|---|
| “Love your enemies” v. 35 | “Your reward will be great” v. 35 |
| “Do good” v.35 | “You will be sons of the Most High” v. 35 |
| “Expect nothing in return” v. 35 | Living from a life founded in Jesus’ love. |
| Remember God’s example: “He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.” v. 35 | “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.” 2. Cor. 5:14 |
| Follow God’s example in mercy “Be merciful.” v. 36 | “For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” v. 38 |
| “Be merciful as your Father is merciful,” v. 36 | “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matt. 5:7 |
| “Do not judge.” v. 37 | “You will not be judged.” v. 37 |
| “Do not condemn” v. 37 | “You will not be condemned.” v. 37 |
| “Pardon” v.37 | “You will be pardoned.” v. 37 |
| “Give” v. 38 | “It will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together, and running over.” v. 38 |
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.”
Matthew 7:24
A life lived in love built upon the love of God in Christ is founded solidly on enduring divine love. Jesus’ love is felt inwardly and expressed outwardly even to one’s enemies.
How thankful we are for the love that is greater than we are.
© 1993, FJ Griffitts, Friendly Words, Ione Baptist Church.
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