For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Jesus. Matthew 5:46, 47. Hi, it’s Nathan, and this is Day 29 of 30 Days on the Mount of Blessing. The evidence of genuine faith is not found in our treatment of those we feel connected to, those we enjoy being around—but in those who rub us wrong. Those who can offer us nothing in return for our kindness. When we love those who love us it doesn’t really prove anything. After all, it’s rather easy to act pleasantly from self-serving motives toward the people who like us. After all, we get something out of the deal. Treating with goodness those who don’t, or can’t, return the favor—or those who treat us quite the opposite—show’s the depth of what God’s doing in our hearts. And that’s the kind of thing our kind Father is working for.
