You can feel it.
People in the world are colder.
So are people who call themselves by the name of Christ.
It takes effort to love those who offend you, to love those who hurt you,
to love those who are not of your same values, your same thought patterns.
Those who want to destroy your world.
Those are some of the enemies God referred to
when He told us to love our enemies.
Ye have heard that it hath been said,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
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;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45
At present, Christians in Nigeria are suffering severe persecution.
They are being persecuted unto death,
and most deaths are very violent and painful.
It is easy for us to tune things out and go into our own little world,
covering our ears to we don’t have to know about it
because it’s uncomfortable.
Caring and praying for them and doing what we can do,
even though we are not yet being killed, is a form of love.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:12
Keeping our love warm is a choice and it is a lot of work, spiritually speaking.
It takes allowing God to work in your heart,
to keep you free from unforgiveness and bitterness and hatred.
It is an effort and a mission from God.
What kind of a Christian has cold love? In other words, no love.
Keep in mind a little offense
can turn into hatred and bitterness rather quickly if you let it.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord,
how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?
till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee,
Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22
In other words, so many you can’t count.
And, we’re not supposed to keep a record of wrongs anyway.
This world is filled with irritants and irritating people.
Love them anyway.
Let Jesus teach you how to love them and forgive them and pray for them.
Just like all things He commands us,
we are to choose whether we follow Him or not and choose to walk in love.
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,
and hath given Himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:2