I was reading Matthew chapter 5-7 some days ago.
There is overwhelmingly much wisdom in these chapters!

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt 5,46-48)

Reflecting over this, it gave me:
- One great challenge
- One great encouragement

The Challenge: To spread extreme love into the world.
There would really be hope for world peace if we were able to follow these words of Jesus, to love not only those who love us but even our enemies!
A first step could be to act out the same kind of love towards those we don´t know so well or those who often are disliked, as we would toward our good friends.
Some people really do this. They would talk with you as if they were your friend even though you don´t know them. Like the verses we read, they greet also you, and not only their friends. They also do this toward those who are maybe less popular. Thats the kind of person I want to be. A good challenge to pursue.

The encouragement: Jesus love for you!
as your heavenly Father is perfect (v.48).
The heavenly Fathers perfectness, we see through the Life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus and the Father
- “I and the Father are one” (Joh 10:30)
- Those that have seen Jesus, have seen the Father
- He does nothing exept what He see the Father do (Joh 5,19)This is the encouragement…

That Jesus fully lived out this love we read about. It has great consequences for us today!

Jesus uniq and extreme love toward …

– His enemies. While hanging on the cross saying: “Father forgive them…”!
- Outcasts of the society. Caring for those looked down upon, even though that made people look down also upon Him.
- Me
- You
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5,8) The greatest act of love possible to do.

Now a funny thing!
I desided to blog about this some days ago and today I got the time to do it. Before I started to write, I took a look at the blog I linked to earlier, and this guy wrote about the exact same words of Jesus today! So I encourage you to also read the short 27.April blogpost at Yourney Deeper.  :-)

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
⁴⁴But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
⁴⁵that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
⁴⁶If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?
Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?
⁴⁸Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (matt 5,43-48)

Lets stay close to Jesus so we can be shaped by him, and become more like him.

Be blessed!