Most people would agree that it is not very difficult to reciprocate love to someone who loves and treats you well. We'll even go to extreme lengths to demonstrate affection to those we care for, no matter the cost. But what about people who dislike, hurt, persecute or even, hate you? In our flesh, it seems unreasonable to expect someone to return love for hate, and kindness for cruelty, but that is exactly what Jesus calls us to do! Christ consistently showed love and compassion towards his enemies, even washing Judas' feet while knowing that Judas would betray him the following day. Jesus loved us and died for us when we were still his enemies and did not know him. He demonstrates true, unconditional love as an example to emmulate. We are not to love as the world loves, but to love exceptionally, as Jesus did. The bar has been raised!
We might not face literal deserts like the Israelites, but we all know trials. Maybe you are in one right now. Isaiah 43:14-19 starts...
What does it mean to 'fear the name of the Lord'? In the NIV translation of the bible, the word 'fear' is replaced with...