When I read world news in the media, whether it be from official sources, both the Western or the Eastern outlets, or if it be from alternative websites, it is all pretty dystopian – wars, killings, hunger, starvation, New World Order, surveillance, inequality, destruction, floods, drought, drug wars, bombing of hospitals, women and children dying, etc. etc. – it is difficult to not get upset, angry or despondent.
All I can say is, “Lord have mercy!” It is all so opposite of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount. “Blessed are the meek,” “Turn the other cheek,” “Blessed are the merciful,” “Blessed are the peacemakers,” - what has this World come to?
Someone commented to me that I seemed to have lost the smile on my face from delving too much into the news and various alternative media, so lately I have tried to counteract the negative input by reading and re-reading some good books like The mountain Calls, Treasures of the snow and such like, as well as the Gospels, and the joy of the Lord seems to have somewhat returned to my countenance. TTL!
Obviously there is much evil, there are enemies, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have told us to love them – as hard as that is! – And to even pray for them! Jesus put the bar pretty high in that sermon when he told us to be perfect ~ Mat.5:48
That’s well nigh an impossible goal to reach. Only the supernatural love of God and His mercy can breach the gap between our ideals and our human limitations. Maybe that’s why He also said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Personally I find it very difficult to be the kind of Christian I would like to be. In theory I can love the whole World, it’s a little more difficult to love that stupid individual next door. That's where I have a problem.
It’s not easy for us to lay aside out prejudice and preconceived ideas, our personal likes and dislikes, our superficial judgement. In short, we are all fallible human beings even if we are saved, born again, filled with the Spirit and so forth. God help us!
But we can’t give up, we can keep striving to love the unlovely, forgive the ignorant, overlook their faults and pray for theirs and our own lack of love and patience.
Here’s something that came when asking...
“Yes, love is the redeeming factor, the one things you have to keep clinging to. I will be with you as long as you look to Me and hold my hand. I see your failings, I see when you miss the mark and fall short of perfect love and forgiveness. But don’t give up. Keep trying. Keep believing. Hold on to your faith and the ways of heaven. The road ahead will be difficult and troublesome, but the end is not yet. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. Hold on, I say, hold on. My love will always be there to comfort and guide. Keep looking up!”
