…‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ Mark 12:31
More true today than ever before. Of the need for personal responsibility and accountability of one’s actions both for word and deed. Christ as always true, rightly points out the measure, yardstick, benchmark for relating with others- which is “as yourself.”
It’s hoped you wouldn’t want to self hurt, self loathe, or live without a plan or purpose, or to be a danger to the ones you love. Then from that basis of wanting to nourish and grow healthy a life affirming soul, the instruction is to love others. No human in the right frame of mind wants to hurt themselves, so Christ appeals to make the same effort to nourish and enrich the experiences of others around you. If you renege from doing so, don’t be appalled if spaces are erected and communications stalls by a friend who wouldn’t engage, in often unsuspecting ways for the polite.
Again to Christ’s spiritual teaching, it’s good to be reminded of it and feed on it.
The depth of it all is our relationship with God is based on love and grace, and it seems right to me to demonstrate that in little ways to others. Perhaps in sharing good news, and look for ways according to our ability to engage and build pathways for peace. Also where God grants ability to show kindness of heart, as appropriate. Perhaps in all the good seeds, one will bear good fruits shining to the world around. We can but pray for first fruits.
Always better when the good lord does the work for us. Remember to live in peace and share love with your loved ones. And the others Christ admonishes of. Take care and enjoy the summer break if your role or holidays permits at this time. Kindly ponder these words and ask God for creative ways to add to your faith love and perseverance. Maybe where it’s not expressed as discreetly an attempt to show love or bring or uncover goodness, ask God to make what is unclear clear and plain so you can judge wisely. But honestly in a haze, dusty wind, or rushing storm Christ’s peace can speak and dwell.
But remember to pray for songs of faith, and love even, because God’s peace will find each person of goodwill and reach them in good time, to enable for good works. Better still in this place of grace build and do what makes for peace. If unhinged and able to, let me know how this has touched you.
Thanks for listening.
God bless.
Evangelist Israel Okunwaye
