(Audio)
For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
This is the model for our own giving and our own love. Jesus, though in the form of God, did not grasp equality with God. He emptied himself and was made poor. In doing so he enabled us to be made rich, even to partake of the divine nature. We are called to give of ourselves, to carry our crosses for the sake of others, to die to self in service of neighbor, so that together with us they might share in newness of life.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father
We are called to love as Jesus loved. We are not called to calculate the worthiness of those whom we love, but rather to love those God has placed in front of us. While we were still enemies of God he nevertheless loved us and sent his Son to die for us. When we deserved it least he loved us most. So too are we called to love. And through such love from Christians the world is transformed and converted.
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
There is only one way to be perfect as the Father is perfect. We can only meet that standard if he himself gives us the grace. His perfection is not something he hordes for himself. It is rather among the riches that he gives away to raise us up with him.
Now as you excel in every respect,
in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness,
and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also.
How can we give of ourselves today? What is one way we can share the blessings we ourselves receive in order to lift up other people? When we do so, God lives in us. Our lives become his song of praise.
Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
the sea and all that is in them.
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