Page 11 - Grace.SUMMER.2021
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strengthens




















 Have you been hurt by someone and  Peter. And then He gave Peter the  Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now

 wished the same kind of pain back on  opportunity three times to affirm his love for  live like it. Live out your God-created
 them? You know what I am talking about . .  Jesus. Jesus even redeemed Peter and  identity. Live generously and graciously
 . “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a  promoted him to a leader. Peter betrayed  toward others, the way God lives toward
 tooth!” We get our hearts broken or we get  Jesus and yet, Jesus forgave and loved  you.” (MSG)
 so angry that we feel like we could trash an  Peter. Can you imagine that kind of

 entire house. I think we have all been in  forgiveness and love?  Jesus wants us to love the way He
 that kind of place a time or two in our lives.                   loves. Why? Because that is how we
 We can get so wrapped up in our emotions  In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus tells us how to  serve and advance the Kingdom of God.

 and wanting them to feel pain, that we find  love our enemies.   That is how we become more Christ-
 ourselves locked inside our own prison. It                       like. There is no greater act of showing
 can consume our thoughts, modify our  “You’re familiar with the old written law,  love than praying for, forgiving, and
 behavior, and harden our hearts.  ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten  loving those who have hurt us - even if it
        companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m                         must be done from afar. That is the kind

 that  stretches you and strengthens you. It is the  enemies. Let them bring out the best in  Lord. That is the kind of love that will
                                                                  of love that brings glory and honor to the
        challenging that. I’m telling you to love your
 There is a kind of love out there that
                                                                  strengthen us.
        you, not the worst. When someone gives
 kind of love that brings you peace and is
 the kind of love that will unlock the door to
        you a hard time, respond with the supple
        moves of prayer, for then you are working
 that prison cell. It is loving those that have
                                                                  Jessica Wall
 hurt you. Seems like the most difficult feat
 on the planet, right? But isn’t that how
        selves. This is what God does. He gives his
        best—the sun to warm and the rain to
 Jesus loved people? Jesus told Peter that  out of your true selves, your God-created  www.One80Love.com
 Love  but he did. Let us be honest here, Peter  love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?
        nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good
 he would deny him three times. Peter
 insisted he would never do that to Jesus,
        and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is


        Anybody can do that. If you simply say
 was not the kindest person on the last night
 of Jesus’ life on earth. He was prideful,
        hello to those who greet you, do you
 boastful, and lacked humility. Yet, Jesus
        expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner
 still forgave
        does that. In a word, what I’m saying is,


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