MacDonald: love before justice

Sunday, February 19, 2017
Meditation:
    [Jesus:] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
    —Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV)
Quotation:
    The pure eye for the true vision of another’s claims can only go with the loving heart. The man who hates can hardly be delicate in doing justice, say to his neighbor’s love, to his neighbor’s predilections and peculiarities. It is hard enough to be just to our friends; and how shall our enemies fare with us?
    ... George MacDonald (1824-1905), “Love Thine Enemy”, in Unspoken Sermons [First Series], London: A. Strahan, 1867, p. 224-225 (see the book)
    See also Matt. 5:43-45; Ex. 23:4-5; Ps. 35:11-14; Luke 6:27-28,34-35; 23:34; Rom. 12:14,20-21; 1 Pet. 2:23; 3:9
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, show me how to do this harder love. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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