God: The Father of All People

   No matter how spiritual or religious each one of us may think to be, there are times when others will rub us the wrong way, thus bringing out the worst in us.  Weather our frustration lasts only for a moment, or if it is a reoccurring event that chips away at our nerves, there is something important that we must keep in mind. No matter how frustrating the offending individual may be, or how deliberate their actions are; God is the Father of everybody and everything that has breath. The bible tells us that God made all people, even the wicked ones for a specific purpose...

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

   Without an array of people in the world, including the unfaithful, the evil and even the poor and needy, how will people of faith have the opportunity to exercise their faith?  The bible is clear that faith without works is dead...

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

   Without people to push our buttons, how will we develop temperance. Without those who are in need, what opportunity will we have to show charity? Even without people who side with evil, how will the world come to an end? It is important to treat each and every person as if they have value, regardless of who they are or what they have done. God may have placed that person in your life to test you, or to strengthen your character, or so that you can be the light in that person's life to turn them around. Those who cannot find it in their heart to love their fellow man, will have a very hard time making it into the everlasting kingdom of heaven. This is due to the fact that the only prerequisite is that you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.  And the only way to truly accept Christ in spirit, and not just in words, is to hear His voice and be obedient to His commandments...

Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

   Without practicing Jesus' commandments, our faith is dead and our spot in the kingdom is not secure. It's not enough to say that you love the Lord, without showing love toward everyone who is made in the image of God: black or white, red, yellow or brown. Everyone you meet is your neighbor. The Lord requires us to worship Him in spirit and in truth, but if you don't have love, you are not walking in the spirit or in the truth...

2 John 1:4-6 (KJV) I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after His commandments. This is the commandment: That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Matthew 5:43-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

   The time has come to firmly ground ourselves in the truth and live our lives showing not only tolerance but love for all people. Not only to those that are pleasing to us, but to ALL people. We do not know who the Lord has allowed to come into our lives, in orders to determine which side of the gate we will end up on. Remember Jesus' words...

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.