DO YOU LOVE LIKE JESUS?

This is a loaded question. Do you love people you disagree with? Do you love those that hate you? Do you love those spreading lies? Do you love those people in public office who do not truly love this country? Do you love those who cheat and steal? Do you love when you do not feel up to it? Do you love when someone has mistreated you? Do you love when rumors have hurt you? Do you love when you get offended? Do you love those people behind prison walls? Do you love when you feel left out? Dp you love those who have more than you?

Love is a word that is thrown around so much. For those of you married it is good to read the "love chapter", 1 Corinthians 13, in the Bible perhaps once a month and do what it says. Love is not just a feeling. But for the purpose of this devotion today I am dealing with a broader perspective on love.

Sometimes we have to ask Jesus to give us love for someone. We may not "like" what a person is doing or has done but God will handle them. Our job is to pray and love. You can not get prayers answered when you hate. Harboring hate is sin and it says in Psalm 66:18(NIV) 'if I would have cherished sin in my heart the Lord would not have listened.' Is there anything you are "harboring" today? Any bitterness? Any hate? Any lack of forgiveness?

Sometimes you may feel so angry or hurt you do not think you can possibly love or even like a certain individual. Your job is simple. Lift them up to the Lord in prayer and if they are doing something wrong tell God to deal with them and change their heart. Ask God to give you a super natural ability to love them. Say 'Lord help me love this person with love only you can give me'. Also in Proverbs 24:17-18 (NIV) it says 'Do not gloat when your enemy falls, when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice. Or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn His wrath away from him.'

Your job, should you choose to accept it, and I hope you do, is to love God with all your heart and then ask Him to help you truly love others.

PRAYER: Father God I confess to you there have been times when I have a hard time loving someone especially if they are trying to hurt me and they are evil and do wrong. Father it is only through you I can show Christian love. Help me Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link below and worship and praise the Lord in song:

http://youtu.be/qaHmiFaX_pk