Then he turned to his host."When you put on a luncheon or a dinner,"he said,"don't invite your friends,brothers,relatives,and rich neighbors.For they will repay you by inviting you back.Instead,invite the poor,the crippled,the lame,and the blind.Then at the resurrection of the godly,God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you." -Luke 14:12-14.
Selfless love
Christ expects those who follow Him to reflect His own character.He is in fact a complete and perfect example of humility and selfless love.
Generally,it is not difficult for people to show natural love towards those who are close to them,or from whom they can expect something.The had once said,"Even sinners love those who love them" -Luke 6:32.The measure of God's love is much higher.He loved us when there was nothing lovable to be found in us,and He could expect nothing from us.We were,in fact,His enemies (Romans 5:8 & 10).
Whoever has become a child of God through the new birth and follows Christ,is in principle enabled and indeed commanded to show such selfless love:"Follow God's example in everything you do,because you are his dear children.Live a life filled with love for others,following the example of Christ,who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins." -Ephesians 5:1-2.
God will reward His children for every act of selfless love at the "resurrection of the just".This expression stresses the fact that the resurrection of believers and that of unbelievers are two distinct events with differentpurposes (cf.John 5:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20,5,6,11-15).
Selfless love
Christ expects those who follow Him to reflect His own character.He is in fact a complete and perfect example of humility and selfless love.
Generally,it is not difficult for people to show natural love towards those who are close to them,or from whom they can expect something.The had once said,"Even sinners love those who love them" -Luke 6:32.The measure of God's love is much higher.He loved us when there was nothing lovable to be found in us,and He could expect nothing from us.We were,in fact,His enemies (Romans 5:8 & 10).
Whoever has become a child of God through the new birth and follows Christ,is in principle enabled and indeed commanded to show such selfless love:"Follow God's example in everything you do,because you are his dear children.Live a life filled with love for others,following the example of Christ,who loved you and gave himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins." -Ephesians 5:1-2.
God will reward His children for every act of selfless love at the "resurrection of the just".This expression stresses the fact that the resurrection of believers and that of unbelievers are two distinct events with differentpurposes (cf.John 5:29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20,5,6,11-15).
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