Commandments of our Lord Jesus are progressively getting more difficult to keep as our love is being perfected.
Mat 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Since our Father God is perfect our Lord wants us to be perfect, so that we are counted worthy to sit with our Lord Jesus on His throne. We thank God that He will grant us more grace and also the Spirit of Christ to be like Him by overcoming all our weaknesses and bondages.
Eph 3:17-19 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Mat 5:40 "If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also."
This will help you to surrender all your rights to the Lord, but to be forgiving, kind, generous and merciful.
Mat 5:41 "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."
This will help you to develop the love and mercy for brethren. For when you see that some of those you have helped, instead of being grateful, they begin to exploit you and demand more and more out of covetousness.
Mat 5:42 "Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away."
If you can follow this, you have already accepted the fact that you must be a faithful steward of the wealth in your hand. You will be delighted to be able to use His money for helping the poor and needy, charitable homes, missions and His other ministries.
This is the final furlong to the perfection of our love.
Mat 5:43-44 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you:-
1. love your enemies
Whenever an enemy appears (in parties, group discussions or excursions), your mood will immediately be affected by his presence. Many will give excuses not to participate unless there is no way out.
Brethren, to love an enemy is beyond any human tolerance. We must treat our enemies as though they are our own parents and loved ones. In their presence we must give them all the respect, honour and love.
Our Lord Jesus loved and died for his enemies, who sent Him to be mocked, whipped and finally crucified.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
2. bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,"
When someone curses you there must be a lot of bitterness harboured. With His love and truth in us we will be able perform the impossible of doing good and praying for our wicked enemies.
Col 3:12-14 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Mat 5:45-47 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?"
