FEBRUARY 02 THE JESUS QUESTIONS JQ#02-05 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<< JQ#2 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you …and if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” (Matthew 5:46-47)

LIVING FOR JESUS --- Daily Devotional

FEBRUARY 02  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#02-05 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<<   JQ#2  “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you …and if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” (Matthew 5:46-47)

033 of 365 - Prayers to JESUS    

Jesus, Glory and Honor to the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the Creator and man is but dust under Your Holy Feet. Yet You have made us heirs to the kingdom as we accept Your Invitation to join the Father and we become sons and daughters in the Family of God — to God be the Glory Forever! Jesus, You know my heart, search it and know my desire to have You draw our entire family to You. I know full well that only You can accomplish Salvation! Lord keep my heart burdened for the family!”     AMEN

THE JESUS QUESTIONS

FEBRUARY 02  THE JESUS QUESTIONS  JQ#02-05 >>> Lessons, Lifestyle, and Parables of Jesus <<<   JQ#2  “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you …and if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” (Matthew 5:46-47) Jesus is teaching us to be concerned about the needs of others and the greatest need everyone has is “Love” — The above prayer was written 16 years ago as I was greatly burdened for my oldest son Robbie who had started down his own path in the world and was heading into darkness. He had no job, no future, and no ambition, only raw talent without purpose which is more dangerous and destructive than it is advantageous. This study in the JESUS Questions has already taught me many new things but most importantly it has highlighted and clarified in my mind some of the lessons that I know now that God had intended for me when I started the “365 Prayers for Jesus” over 16 years ago. I did not know what the outcome would be when I committed to starting my day by writing a prayer to Jesus and praying for the family every day for an entire year which I accomplished first in 2004. I mention this during our study of “The JESUS Questions” because I did not know what I would learn or accomplish when I started the “365 Prayers for Jesus” but there has been so much fruit from the 2004 year of starting my day by writing the Name “JESUS” that it is still impacting my life 12 years later and I am sure that there are new lessons and new blessings in answering “The JESUS Questions”! Today, February 2, 2017 the prayer above is a prayer that I wrote in 2004 that was especially meaningful to me in 2016 because of the new “The JESUS Questions” project and the impact that it is having in my family.  It is not a random coincidence that I would read a prayer written 12 years ago that has so much relevance to my working on JQ#2. Yesterday I wrote that the context around JQ#2 was all focused on understanding the “Love of God” and how important “Love” is to God and then consider answering JQ#2 which is 4 questions asking effectively one question.  God really wants us to stop and think about our answer so He asks the same question 4 different ways, which immediately reminds me of the story when Jesus appeared to Peter after the Resurrection and asked Peter three repetitive questions in John 21:15-17. The 3 questions asked Peter can be translated as “Do you love Me?” asked from three different words used for “Love” with each one carrying successively more weight on the commitment to “Love God!”. My prayer in 2004 was when I was first learning how to be a good follower and God had me looking down the path of “Love”. In this 2004 prayer I prayed with the love of the best father I could be for my son Robbie at that point in my “Spiritual” journey and my heart was turned also to praying that our family would be healed. It is 12 years later and I have prayed every day for our family and God has healed our family and brought us all back together and since January of 2005 we have had a “Family Night” EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT — God is Good! Tomorrow I will try to put an answer to JQ#2 which is effectively asking each of us to consider where and how are we directing our “Love”? God is always teaching  us about “Love”, and in God’s Heart “LOVE” is ALWAYS about GIVING. Love is not “Love” if it is not given away! Stop and think where you would be today if at some point in life instead of feeling hurt you had chosen to “Love” the one hurting you instead of being the victim and having your own feelings hurt! Selfishness about “Love” will you let your personal hurt drive you away causing a separation in the relationship but if you give “Love” to your attacker you will find healing of relationships instead of hurt. Hold that thought as you read JQ#2 - Matthew 5:46-47.