Saturday after the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, 8/26/00

Matthew 5: 43-48 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 sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. --NASB

In the name of the One Who is perfect, amen.

Perfect love loves even an enemy. That is the sort of love that God had for us. His perfect love loved us even when we were His enemies. When we show charity toward our enemies, we live our faith to its fullest, and we attract others to Christ.

Of course it goes without saying that we fall far short of perfection in this life. Thankfully we have Christ's perfection through Baptism. Our efforts at perfection grow out of His perfection, and are to His glory. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the perfect love that You have shown us by giving Your life for us even when we hated You. Thank You for giving us Your perfection to show to our heavenly Father. Help us to love others the way that You love them, so that they may come to faith in You, amen.

Copyright 2000 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org