The Antidote [3]

The Ola Olutayo Mail.
Today 4th Oct, 2013.

The Antidote [3].

This is the concluding part of
this series.
I have written and published
two notes on this topic before
now.
On Wednesday we began
learning God's way of love;
demonstrated in the sacrifice of
Jesus.
The idea was to adopt this "way"
into our relationships with
people; being fully
persuaded that it is God's will for
us contrary to our own ways of
love - John 17:26.
The first point was that we do
not know how to love people.
God's ways are not our ways
and he clearly demonstrates that
in his love towards us.
Then yesterday we moved onto
the next point which was
compassion.
We learnt that compassion is the
corresponding action of love.
Love without compassion is
dead!
Jesus demonstrated his
compassion for us in the
physicalities of life, and we
highlighted quite a number of
them.
Today, we'll create a chain
between the aforementioned
points.
When the prophecy of Jesus'
mission on earth came to his
mother Mary, she was told:
"...and you are to give him the
name Jesus, because he WILL
save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21.
The angel didn't say "...he HAS
saved his people..."
At that time, he only WILL save.
And that salvation journey
formally began when Jesus was
baptised in John 3.
This is equivalent to our first
point.
First we realise that we do not
know how to love people so we
put them within God's reach so
that we can learn to love from
his perspective.
We let go of people and not
confine them to our own ways
of love.
Jesus didn't just wake up at five
years old and went about
proclaiming salvation!
Though being the Son of God all
things were possible to him yet
as he moved along with God he
also moved along with the
people to learn a whole lot about
them - Luke 2:52.
We do the same.
We move along with God as he
demonstrates his love for us and
then we demonstrate it on
people in response!
We move with God first! II
Corinthians 8:5.
We can't give what we haven't
received.
And we cannot blame God for
any failed relationship with
people because we were the
ones who failed to let go of our
own ideas and didn't
demonstrate his own love.
Even if we did our best to
demonstrate his love and yet it
failed, we would still be glad that
"we were like him."
Now, once his ministry started at
his baptism, Jesus possessed
something that kept him going
till he screamed "It is finished!"
That was Compassion.
When it was locked that he was
going to give his life in
exchange for us, he "remained in
that committment" by his
great measure of compassion.
We learn from him.
So when we find ourselves in
relationships and have locked in
ourselves to loving people,
working for people and with
people, let us not waiver in
difficult times but rather engage
ourselves in appropriate and
timely acts of compassion.
When Jesus looked upon the
people that were objects of his
love he had compassion on
them.
Though in difficult times when
this people turned against him
still he claimed "they do not
know what they do".
Remember that the
compassionate is not a loser!
Compassion is a labour of love
and God doesn't forget such.
Hebrews 6:10.
And to the compassionate grace
will abound, multiply, and secure.
II Corinthians 9:8.
In your anger don't turn against
people when they turn against
you and even forget or disregard
your acts of compassion.
In some cases, it will be obvious
that such might happen.
Jesus experienced it and has told
us first hand in Mark 10:29-30.
Note in that scripture, He said,
"...and with them, persecutions."
He went further to reiterate this,
saying
"I have told you these things, so
that IN ME you MAY have peace.
In this world you will have
trouble..." John 16:33.
I highlighted the word "may"
because many of us just forget
where the peace is!
It's in Jesus!
The peace is sure, but if we don't
know where it is and STAY right
there, the doubt is activated.
When we have been hurt despite
our compassionate moves we
don't explode with anger but go
INTO the Word, find the peace
and STAY on it!
Now as we have learnt and put
to work the manner of God's
love people will respond
positively!
Your spouse will be
overwhelmed,
your employers amazed,
your friends supportive,
your family appreciative,
your colleagues respectful,
and
even your enemies submissive!
Which ever way it comes, people
will respond and situations will
take a good turn.
That's my third and final point:
the response.
It's as if those whom you GAVE
to God,
loving them from God's
perspectives,
putting the Jesus' compassion in
you at work,
will be GIVEN BACK to you for
every good work!
Well, that's true!
Not just because I have
experienced it but also because
IT IS WRITTEN:
"Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your
lap. For with the measure you
use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 6:38.
That is the antidote to many bad
news around us.
For it is The Gospel, mighty to
save!
Put it to work.
Have faith!

I love your message! Great work. I would add, though, that we don't always receive love back when we show it to others, although, oftentimes it does happen. In this broken and hurting world, we shouldn't always expect to receive love and kindness in return for love and kindness, but we will see our reward, for sure, when we enter the gates of heaven.

Got it ma'am!

Even if people react in the negative, God still makes it possible that they are available for me to do every good work.
It's even sweeter to continue doing good works to, alongside, or through people who are still holding back from making peace with you.
I have experienced that some of them seem to have no choice but to in fact, aid my good works!
"When a man's ways pleases the Lord, he makes his enemies at peace with him."
and
"Without faith it is impossible to please God..."
That's it.
God bless!