"When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing." Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!" (Luke 23:33-35)
Jesus was on a cross, a spear pushed into his side and he still forgives. I pray that I will be able to love like that and inspire others to love like that. Even though we have been hurt, offended, or taken advantage of we would be able to say "forgive them because they do not know what they are doing." This is the way of holiness. To love despite who stands across from us, to forgive because we understand that this is how God loves and our calling as Christ followers is to be like him. This is not an action that comes just because we get "saved," but only comes with great practice, prayer, meditation, and daily treating all we encounter as Jesus himself. Mother Teresa was asked, "What do you do everyday? Her response was "I see Jesus Christ in all his distressing disguises." Remember that people do not know what they are doing, they do not realize that God loves them and we have the opportunity to treat them all as Christ.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.'
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'"
"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'"
Matthew 25:34-40
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