When Alex was about three years old, Poppa and I were her “babysitters” for the week-end. One evening we were trying to get her to eat her dinner. She obviously was not in the mood for what I had prepared and pushed her plate aside. Poppa asked her what she wanted him to do with her food. She quickly and very emphatically replied, “Throw it in the trash.”

That’s how it often is with you and I. Jesus taught us many lessons while He was here on earth and we simply just push them aside and “throw them in the trash.” Let’s look at three of those lessons:

BE GIVING AND CARING AND COMPASSIONATE - “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick” – Matt. 14:14.   “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…” Matthew 6:3

BE FORGIVING - “Peter came up to the Lord and asked, “How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus answered: Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:22-23

DON’T JUDGE OTHERS - “Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.” Luke 6:36

We live in a world where the primary focus of many is “self.”   But we are commanded in God’s word (Luke 10:27) to:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.”