Page 938 … The Holy Life
“Thank you Jesus, for telling us that we should live holy lives” … Yes, my Friend, Jesus most certainly did intimate that we were all to strive to live holy lives. And yet you seem to have forgotten what constituted such a sacred existence for him … Please consider (and then please enliven) the following Truths related thereto:
*For Jesus, the Holy Life is always humble towards others (see Matthew 6:1-6, Matthew 18:3-4, Matthew 23:12 et al) …
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this young child is the greatest in the Kingdom.”
~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:3-4)
*For Jesus, the Holy Life is always non-judgmental of others’ sins (see Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:37-38, John 7:10-24, James 4:11-12, John 8:15 et al) …
“Be merciful towards others, just as your heavenly Father is merciful. Do not judge others, and you will not be judged; do not condemn them, and you will not be condemned. Forgive them, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back … You judge by human standards; I judge no one.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 6:36-38 + John 8:15)
*For Jesus, the Holy Life is always non-hypocritical (see Matthew 7:3-5, Matthew 23:25-26, John 8:7, James 1:26, 1 John 4:20, Matthew 15:7-9 et al) …
“Why do you notice the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s … You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. In vain do they worship me – teaching mere human precepts as though they were doctrines divine.’” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:3-5 + Matthew 15:8-9)
*And for Jesus, the Holy Life is always filled with random acts of Kindness and selfless acts of Love – especially when we feel we can least afford to give them, and especially for those we feel are least deserving of the same (see Matthew 5:40-48, Matthew 10:41-42, Matthew 25:40, Luke 6:35, John 15:12-14, et al).
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well, and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile … You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect [in Love], therefore, as [the Love of] your heavenly Father is perfect.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:39-48)
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