WHAT IF SOMEONE WALKED INTO YOUR LIFE, SOMEONE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN OR MET BEFORE AND THAT PERSON CLAIMED TO BE YOUR LONG LOST BROTHER OR SISTER? ONE THING FOR SURE YOU WOULD MOST LIKELY ASKED SOME VERY PERTINENT QUESTIONS IN ORDER TO VALIDATE THEIR CLAIM AND WHILE YOUR ASKING QUESTIONS YOU WOULD INADVERTENTLY LOOK FOR A FAMILY RESEMBLACE BECAUSE EVERY FAMILY HAS CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND CERTAIN TRAITS THAT ARE PASSED ON FROM ONE GENERATION TO ANOTHER. IF SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE PART OF THE MILLER FAMILY AND THEY WERE MALE THE VERY FIRST THING I’D LOOK FOR WOULD BE BIG EARS AND A THICK MUSTACHE, BECAUSE THAT’S MY FAMILY TRAIT.
IN OUR TEXT, JESUS GIVES US A LESSON ON HOW WE CAN BECOME RIGHTEOUS, HE SAID, “BE PERFECT THEREFORE, AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT.” NOT PERFECT IN CHARACTER BUT PERFECT IN YOUR PURPOSE. AND PRIOR TO THIS HE SPEAKS ABOUT LOVING YOUR ENEMY AND FOR SOME OF US, OUR FIRST REACTION WHEN WE HEAR THESE WORDS OF JESUS IS TO THINK THAT JESUS IS BEING UNREALISTIC AND EVEN UNREASONABLE. —ACTUALLY WHAT WE’RE THINKING IS THAT HE IS TELLING US DO SOMETHING WE CANNOT POSSIBLY DO.
LOVE YOUR ENEMY? IT DOES SEEM LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE DEMAND, BUT JESUS IS NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF MAKING IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS WHAT HE IS SAYING HERE IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE LOOK AT US THEY OUGHT TO SEE A FAMILY RESEMNLAMCE BETWEEN US & GOD. IF YOU ARE A PARENT YOUR CHILD OFTEN LOOKS LIKE YOU—THAT’S THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM ON THE MAURY SHOW, SOME OF THE MEN WHO APPEAR ON THIS SHOW LIKE TO SAY THAT THE CHILD DOESN’T LOOK LIKE THEM—AND THEN LATER ON MAURY HAS TO CORRECT THEM AFTER ACQUIRING THEIR DNA AND SAY WITH A POSITIVE VOICE THAT “YOU ARE THE FATHER!”
HERE IN THE TEXT JESUS DEFINITELY KNOWS WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE HE IS THE SPITTING IMAGE OF HIS FATHER, HE HAS HIS SAME PROFILE, HE TALKS LIKE HIS FATHER, HE WALKS LIKE HIS FATHER—IN FACT, HE EVEN SAYS THAT, “I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE!” AND THE FATHER ASSURED US ONE DAY BY SENDING DOWN A DOVE AND SAYING THAT, "THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I WELL PLEASED", ONE DAY JESUS LOOKED UP TO HEAVER AND SAID, “…FATHER THE HOUR HAS COME; GLORIFY YOUR SON SO THAT YOUR SON CAN GLORIFY YOU” HE WANTED TO RECIPROCATE BY USING HIS GLORY TO HONOR THE FATHER. JESUS BY PRAYING THIS PRAYER GIVES US A GREAT EXAMPLE. IT MAKES US ASK THE QUESTION, DO WE FOR BLESSINGS THAT WE MIGHT BETTER SERVE GOD AND DO HIS WILL OR DO WE SIMPLY ASK FOR BLESSINGS THAT ONLY SERVE OURSELVES?
HERE IN THE TEXT, JESUS IS SAYING THAT WHEN PEOPLE SEE YOU, (HE SAYS) I WANT IT TO OBVIOUS THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. BECAUSE IF YOU ARE LIKE YOUR FATHER THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOUR FATHER SHOWS HIS LOVE TO EVERYONE AND I WANT YOU TO LEARN HOW TO DO THE SAME THING. I WANT YOU TO SHOW YOUR LOVE—EVEN TO YOUR ENEMIES. LOVE YOUR ENEMY, NOT EROS LOVE BECAUSE THAT’S LOVE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, I SAID A MAN AND A WOMAN. NOT STORGE LOVE BECAUSE THAT’S LOVE ONLY FOR YOUR FAMILY, NOT PHILEO LOVE, ALTHOUGH IT IS BROTHERLY LOVE IT IS STILL NOT STRONG ENOUGH, JESUS SAYS I WANT YOU TO HAVE AGAPE LOVE. THE KIND OF LOVE THAT SAYS I LOVE YOU EVEN IF YOU REFUSE TO LOVE ME BACK.
ALLOW ME TO MENTION VERSE 48 AGAIN BECAUSE HE CONCLUDES IN VERSE 48 BY SAYING “BE PERFECT, THEREFORE, AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS PERFECT.” SOME FOLK HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS WORD “PERFECT” BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT TO PERFECT REQUIRES THAT YOU BE WITHOUT A SCAR OR A BLEMISH OR A FLAW.AND WE KNOW THAT NO MATTER HOW WE MAY TRY IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT ANY SCARS BUT THE GREEK WORD FOR PERFECT (IN THIS TEXT) ACTUALLY MEANS THAT YOU SHOULD BE MATURE, READY & ABLE TO DO WHATEVER THE JOB REQUIRES. THAT’S WHAT JESUS IS EXPECTING FROM US, IS THAT WE READY AND ABLE TO DO WHATEVER IS REQUIRED IN THIS KINGDOM BUILDING WORK AND IF THE REQUIREMENT IS TO LOVE SOMEBODY THAT REFUSES TO LOVE YOU BACK—THEN SO BE IT.
NOW, HOW DO WE REALLY TAKE ON THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE OF GOD? I HAVE THREE POINTS THAT IN THE WORDS THE LATE DR. C. A. W. CLARK SHOULD NOT ONLY HELP YOU BUT ’HOPE’ YOU.
THE FIRST THING I SEE HERE IS THAT WE NEED TO REALIZE:
1. THE MAGNIFICENSE OF GOD’S LOVE
LOOK WHAT JESUS SAYS THERE IN VERSE 45; HE SAYS THAT GOD “…CAUSES THE SUN TO RISE ON THE EVIL & THE GOOD, & HE SENDS THE RAIN ON THE RIGHTEOUS & THE UNRIGHTEOUS.” IN OTHER WORDS, GOD IS GRACIOUS AND JUST AND FAIR TO EVERYBODY. I’M GLAD THAT GOD IS GOD AND HE’S GOD ALL BY HIMSELF.
BECAUSE IF SOME OF US WERE GOD, WE’D ALL BE IN WORLD OF TROUBLE.
THE PEOPLE WE LIKE WOULD HAVE IT MADE, BUT OUR ENEMIES WOULD BE WALKING AROUND WITH STORM CLOUDS OVER THEIR HEADS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
HIS LOVE IS MAGFICENT, FIRST OF ALL—BECAUSE OF HIS SUN (S-U-N) DON’T YOU KNOW WE COULDN’T EVEN EXIST WITHOUT THE SUN. THE SUN PROVIDES LIGHT AND WARTH, WITHOUT THE SUN IT WOULD BE DARK ALL DAY AND NIGHT. WITHOUT GOD’S SUN NOTHING IN THE SOIL WOULD GROW. WITHOUT THE SUN IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EVEN LIVE. BUT GOD’S LOVE IS SO MAGNIFICENT THAT HE SHARE THE SUNSHINE WITH EVERYBODY—THE GOOD & THE BAD. OSAMA BIN LADEN WHEN HE WAS ALIVE ENJOYED THE SUNSHINE AS MUCH AS MOTHER TERESA ENJOYED IT AND GOD DOESN’T JUST SHARE HIS SUNSHINE—HE ALSO SENDS HIS RAIN.
BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS—WHAT IF GOD SAID, “I’LL GIVE YOU SOME SUNSHINE TODAY BUT ONLY IF YOU COME TO CHURCH? AND THAT INCLUDES COMING TO SUNDAY SCHOOL AS WELL. WELL, OUR ATTENDANCE WOULD BE A LITTLE BETTER I THINK. WHAT IF GOD SAID I’LL SEND YOU SOME RAIN IF YOU PROMISE TO FAST & PRAY TOMORROW? –MAYBE WE WOULD PRAY A LITTLE MORE, WOULDN’T WE? T WOULD PROBABLY DEPEND ON WHETHER WE THINK WE NEED THE RAIN OR NOT.
AND YOU KNOW, GOD ALSO OWNS ALL THE GOLD & SILVER, HE OWNS THE CATTLE ON THE THOUSAND HILLS. HE OWNS THE WATER THAT WE DRINK AND EVEN THE PLASTIC BOTTLES THAT OSARKA SELLS ALONG WITH THE WATER. ALL THESE THINGS BELONG TO GOD, BUT SOMEHOW WE THINK IT BELONGS TO US. AND THAT’S WHAT CAUSES A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY WE THINK THAT EARNED IT AND ALL OF IT BELONGS TO US EVEN THE TENTH. THE REASON WHY GOD’S LOVE IS SO MAGNIFICENT IS BECAUSE HE SHOWERS ALL HIS BLESSINGS ON EVERY ONE OF US.
THE REASON GOD’S LOVE IS SO MAGNIFICENT IS BECAUSE HE IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSON. HE DOES’NT CONSIDER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN? HE DON’T CARE HOW OLD OR YOUNG YOU ARE. HE DOESN’T CARE IF YOU’RE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN AND HE EVEN LOOKS BEYOND YOUR FAULTS IN ORDER TO SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS. HIS LOVE IS MAGNIFICENT! AND THE NEXT THING IS WHEN YOU COMPARE GOD’S LOVE TO MAN’S LOVE:
2. THE MEDIOCRITY OF MAN’S LOVE
IT’S MEDIOCRE; WE HAVE TO THE MAGNIFICENSE OF GOD’S LOVE IN CONTRAST TO THE MEDIOCRITY OF MAN’S LOVE. WE TEND TO PLACE PEOPLE IN CATEGORY’S—IF WE LIKE SOMEBODY WE PLACE THEM RIGHT HERE (GESTURE BY RAISING HAND UP).
BUT IF WE DON’T LIKE YOU WE’LL PLACE YOU RIGHT THERE (GESTURE BY LOWERING HAND). IF YOU MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO US ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WE’LL PLACE YOU RIGHT ABOUT HERE (MID-WAY). IF YOU’RE RIGHT HERE (GESTURE ABOVE) WE LOVE YOU.IF YOU’RE RIGHT HERE (MID-WAY) WE’LL TOLERATE YOU, BUT IF YOU’RE RIGHT HERE (BELOW) –WATCH OUT!!!
BUT RIGHT HERE IN THE TEXT, JESUS COMES ALONG AND BURST ALL OUR BUBBLES AND SAY I WANT YOU TO LOVE EVEN IF SOMEBODY COMES ALONG AND SMACKS YOU ON YOUR RIGHT CHEEK, I EXPECT YOU TO TURN AROUND AND OFFER HIM YOUR LEFT CHEEK. IF SOMEONE WANTS YOU TO WALK THEM FOR A MILE—I WANT YOU TO GO AN EXTRA MILE. –I DON’T WANT YOU TO LIMIT YOUR LOVE TO ONLY YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS—BUT I WANT YOU TO LOVE YOUR ENEMIES TOO.
I’LL ADMIT, THAT’S HARD TO UNDERSTAND. THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ME AND CRITICISING ME BEHIND MY BACK, I’VE EVEN HAD A PASTOR OF WHOM I RESPECTED AND STILL RESPECT TREAT ME THIS WAY.
AND YET HERE JESUS SAYS—TO NOT ONLY LOVE THOSE WHO ARE LOVABLE, BUT LOVE THOSE WHO ARE UNLOVABLE TOO. IF YOU HAVE MEDIOCRE LOVE, YOU LOVE SOME FOLK & HATE SOME FOLK THEN YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THE PERSON THAT YOUR HATING ON, EVEN IF THAT PERSON GAVE YOU A GOOD REASON TO HATE HIM. HE SAYS THAT’S WHY I WANT YOU TO LOVE LIKE YOUR FATHER UP IN HEAVEN, I WANT YOU TO BEAR THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE. AND SO WE HAVE THE MAGNIFICENSE OF GOD’S LOVE--& THE MEDIOCRITY OF MAN’S LOVE—BUT HERE IS WHAT JESUS REALLY WANTS FROM US AND IN US IF YOU WILL, HE WANTS:
3. THE MATURITY OF CHRISTIAN LOVE
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN LOVE? DON’T YOU REMEMBER WHEN A TEACHER CAME TO JESUS AND ASKED HIM, “WHAT IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT OF ALL?”—AND JESUS SAID, “LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND & WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH” THAT’S CHRISTIAN LOVE.
IT MEANS LOVE GOD WITH EVERYTHING YOU GOT, BUT DON’T STOP THERE. –HE SAID, “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”—AND THE THING ABOUT THAT IS, BEFORE YOU LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF—YOU’VE GOT TO FIRST LEARN HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF. WHEN YOU LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOU GOT THAT’S WHEN YOU LEARN HOW TO LOVE ALL THAT HE HAS CREATED.
EVEN THAT BOSS THAT GIVES YOU GRIEF ALL WEEK LONG. EVEN THAT GOSSIPER THAT’S TRYING TO PUT YOUR BUSINESS OUT IN THE STREET. EVEN THAT BILL COLLECTOR THAT CALLS YOU ON THE PHONE EVERY OTHER DAY, YEA EVEN HIM.
THERE USED TO BE A TIME WHEN YOU CROSSED ME I WANTED TO GET BACK AT YA. –AND I’D EVEN FIND A WAY TO GET BACK AT YOU. BUT THE MORE I GOT INTO GOD’S WORD I STARTED TAKING ON THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE. AND WHEN I TOOK ON THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE THE ENEMY’S IN LIFE STARTED ONE BY ONE LEAVING ME ALONE.
THE STORY HAS BEEN TOLD OF TWO NEIGHBORS, ONE CHRISTIAN WOMAN AND ONE EXTREMELY MEAN WOMAN. THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR WOULD SPEAK EVERY CHANCE SHE COULD GET, BUT THE MEAN NEIGHBOR WOULD ONLY GRUNT BACK AT HER WITH A MEAN LOOK ON HER FACE. THE MEAN NEIGHBOR WAS SO MEAN UNTIL SHE WOULD THROW HER DIRTY DISH WATER OUT OF HER WINDOW TOWARDS THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE. ONE DAY THE MEAN NEIGHBOT GOT SICK AND HAD TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE. NO ONE WOULD VISIT HER BECAUSE THEY FELT SHE WAS JUST TOO MEAN TO BOTHER WITH. BUT ONE DAY THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR PAID HER A VISIT AT HER SICK BED WITH SOME BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS IN HER HANDS. THE MEAN NEIGHBOR WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HER SHE BEGAN TO CRY AND FEEL GUILTY. SHE SAID, I’VE TREATED YOU SO UGLY AND MEAN YET YOU STILL CAME BY TO VISIT ME? THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR SAID OF COURSE I CAME BY TO VISIT YOU, YOU ARE MY NEIGHBOR AND I LOVE YOU.
THE MEAN NEIGHBOR ASKED, WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS THAT YOU ARE BRINGING ME? THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR SAID THESE ARE THE FLOWERS THAT YOU HELPED ME TO GROW. THE MEAN NEIGHBOR WAS SHOCKED, SHE ASKED, ME? HOW DID I HELP YOU? THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBOR SAID YOU KEPT THROWING YOUR DISHWATER OUT OF YOUR WINDOW, AND YOUR DISHWATER NUTURED THESE FLOWERS. AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS, WATCH OUT WHERE YOU THROW YOUR DIRTY DISHWATER--BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT YOU MEANT FOR BAD TOWARDS SOMEONE ELSE GOD WILL TURN IT TO GOOD. DO YOU BEAR THE FAMILY RESEMBLANCE?
