“When was the last time that you did something simply to bless someone? When did you give someone a gift that was wildly beyond the norm, and did it anonymously? When have you covenanted to pray with another until their need was met, and really did it faithfully? Let’s go deeper. How about blessing someone who has harmed you in the past, really blessing them? Or forgiving so completely that you have their best interests at heart every time you think of them. Do you know that the kind of life mentioned above should be the way you function every moment? It is the way that Jesus thought and acted. It is the way you should, too, if you say that you follow Him.”

 Romans 12:9-21 NIV

9) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13) Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16) Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17) Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

20) On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 John 2:6 AMP

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

The world understands hatred, hitting back, and demanding payment for wrong that has been done to them. Just look in the Yellow Pages under “lawyers.” What the world is desperately trying to understand is the kind of love that Jesus showed when He walked on this earth. His love made the hardened soldier, who had seen daily crucifixions, say of Jesus, “Surely he was the Son of God!

I believe that centurion had observed Jesus before and was saying, “He must be who He has been saying He was. He lived and died what He preached.”

Our heritage is to live an honorable life with higher standards than even the most honorable person in the world. Jesus did; so must we.

Show me how, Lord,

Jim Corbett