John 13:1 – Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that His hour had come that He would depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
In Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus told Peter, James and John “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” His time of being mocked, beaten, tortured and killed on the cross for them and us was upon Him. Have your friends failed you? When His closest friends failed Him, Jesus gave us an example to do with friends who fail us. He continued to love them sacrificially. He died for them. The Apostle Paul wrote of love that it is patient, that it endures all things and that it never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Jesus is our example. For those who call Him “Master” there are no “buts” He is our example. And if we find reasons for us to do otherwise, then how are we different from the Peter, James and John who failed Him at Gethsemane? Surely they were tired as three times in a row they did not obey the Lord but fell asleep rather than praying for Him. When our friends disappoint us, as we too often do also to them, let us follow the example of Jesus and sacrificially love them, unto the end. (1 Peter 2:21) 1 Peter 2:23 states that Jesus did not return hurt or insult but kept trusting and desiring to please the Father. And we likewise are called to trust the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and keep living us as He has commanded us to live. We are to love each other in the same manner, with the same strength and with the same passion as Jesus has loves us. (John 15:12) We will hurt each other, hopefully never intentionally. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive others their sin, your Father will not forgive your sins.” We are to forgive every time. No exceptions. How do we do this? We yield to the Holy Spirit and let Him make us a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17) The old self, the flesh, must die. (Romans 8:13) We understand to obey all the laws we must grow in the understanding that love is the answer to living out all of God’s commands. (Matthew 22:37-40) All of the laws of God are fulfilled by being filled with His love. (Matthew 22:40) And if we don’t have the love of God within, then we don’t belong to God. (1 John 4:7-8)
So family, don’t follow what the world has infiltrated into even the minds and hearts of those who call themselves by the name of the Lord. Forgive people. Love people. Don’t discard them but bear with them and help them. Will we be hurt? Yes. Will we be offended? Yes. Will we be “put upon?” Yes. And so we will grow to be like Jesus, our Savior, our Lord and Master, and our supreme example. Let us learn love and grow in it. Jesus loved us and came to earth to seek and save the lost. Let us do likewise and praise God as we do. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.