John 17:13-19
God's Word is Truth
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Matthew 22:34-40
The Greatest Commandment
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Jesus teaches us that God's Word is Truth...So as being a follower of the Truth, one would think it would be easy to answer questions, to others asking, that I believe much like Jesus believes...I trend and see Truth in His Teachings...I see the world and much around me as all things have been made through Him...He is our Greatest Resource on Truth...It also should be very, very easy to talk about Jesus to anyone and everyone...And that would be the Truth of the matter, and the Way Life should be...But what I have found in life is that being a follower of Jesus, one of my fears is that it is not easy to talk about Jesus and use Him as a source for many answers to difficult questions -even though He is Truth...Maybe I do not want to be pigeon-holed as being a Bible Thumper, even though I probably am...Jesus and the Bible gives us many answers to our daily questions and His answers mostly revolve around forgiveness and love...
Do people want to love God and to love neighbor...Jesus has forever linked God and neighbor together when discussing the Two Greatest Commandments...Do we really want all our neighbors to be able to have a better life?...The question of equality, helping others, people wanting to have a better life can wind up being a very complex question...Should all people be treated equally or just some?...Should all people be loved in the world or just some?...How do I view an enemy, without knowing he really is?...And do I use my heart when I consider someone an enemy?...
Jesus viewed His enemies differently than I do...He LOVED His enemies...That is what He taught...He wants us also to love them...If today I were asked about loving my enemies, I would answer that I must follow Jesus' teachings as best I can...Instead of looking and talking to people about my enemies and my neighbors and helping them -can become difficult, in defending Jesus' position... And those people who are my enemies I must look at them from the heart...I often become emotionally charged and sometimes angry with those who do not see those as I do...And this sometimes includes my enemies...I should think as my enemy as an intellect and heartfelt person, but I see them wrong and as one who needs to change their opinion on the matter we disagree with...It is my opinion that I see is the right one...
So is it possible we as man get angry at our enemies when they disagree with us?...Is it possible that we get angry when people don't take up our viewpoint?...Author Philip Yancey was right when he wrote, “Christians get very angry toward other Christians who sin differently than they do.”...