Zechariah 2:8 (NRSVue) - For thus said the Lord of hosts after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.
The prophet encountered angels sent by the Lord.
I am struck by the second part of this verse in which God’s people are called the apple of his eye.
This is an expression of love.
As Christians, we are commanded to love.
Christ frequently reminded us of this.
He did so in Matthew 25.
And the way He reminded us of this is anything but subtle.
Matthew 25:40 (NRSVue) - And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’
Speaking plainly, we are to love everyone just as God loves everyone.
Sometimes, as human beings, we find some people easier to love than others.
But here, Christ reminded us we are to love everyone.
We are even to love those we find difficult to love.
After all, they are the ones who need love the most.
As we continue our journey through Lent, we remember Christ.
We should also remember how He told us of Gods great love for all.
John 3:15-17 (NRSVue) - “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
Every person in creation is special to God.
To borrow from Zechariah, they are the apple of His eye.
We must remember that.
We must also live by that.
As we mature in faith through God’s love, we can.
Paul also reminded us of just how important love is in our lives.
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSVue) - And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 17, 2023.
I will be back here on Friday, March 24, 2023
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