1. Love your enemy. This is not a natural act. My outer man would rather hate, loath, curse, and plot revenge, not bless, love, and pray for my enemies. Only through the grace and strength through the Spirit of Christ can I love my enemies and my neighbors as myself.
2. Count it all joy. During the hard times in life, my response is usually far from joyful. Sure, I can flesh out a smile when someone cuts me off in traffic or when I lock my keys in my car. But when it comes to true suffering, such as a friend being sick, a family member dieing, or harsh persecution, my natural tendency is anger, resentmentment, fear, and anxiety. To fulfill this command requires a sanctified, spiritually mature man (or lady) of God whose full faith and hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Live with your wife in an understanding way. Differential calculus - check. Substitutionary atonement - no problem. Understanding my (wonderful and darling) wife - not a clue.
4. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength. In the flesh this is hard to accomplish because I am so busy loving myself. Sure, I can squeeze in a couple of hours on Sunday morning, but the rest of the week is booked up pursuing my own lusts. Only by being crucified with Christ and subsequently resurrected anew can I obtain the ability and will to fulfill this command.
5. Be holy, for I am holy. No matter how hard I try, my natural, carnal self always falls short of God's glory. I was sinful from birth, and a child of wrath like the rest of mankind. I sinned because I was a sinner by nature. But thanks be to God because while I was dead in my trespassed Christ died for me. My old self was crucified with Him, so that my body of sin might be done away with, and I am no longer a slave to sin. I am alive to God through Christ. For through grace I am saved through faith, and have been justified, am being sanctified, and will one day be perfected in holiness.
for His glory,
DJ
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