Janet and I have been on the no-call list since 2006. That includes our land line as well as both of our mobile phones. Yet, lately, we have been victimized by literally hundreds of calls claiming to be from legitimate sources wanting us to consider new Medicare alternatives with increased benefits, hearing aids, emergency alert systems to wear around out necks, final expense insurance to cover our funeral expenses and a host of other “scams” designed to have us reveal confidential information. Of course, this could be used to sell our info on the dark web or get bank account info or steal our credit card info.
A little more than a year ago, we received notice that Janet’s social security number was used to secure a cable account in western Texas. We knew nothing about it until we were advised that there was a delinquent bill and our credit was being adversely affected. Thankfully, we have a credit bureau that monitors our credit as well as any suspicious transactions and they stepped into the fray to help us find and report the identity thieves.
I’m sure that part of our current dilemma with all the unwanted calls can be traced back to the hacking of Janet’s personal information. I’m probably naive but I just don’t understand why there is so much deception in the world today. Whatever happened to an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay?
A friend of mine in Arizona had a similar thing happen a little more than a week ago. He actually got scammed for some money but, hopefully, they didn’t get any personal information that was compromised. He went so far as to engage the person in a discussion about faith and God. He even went so far as to pray for the person – and he actually got his money back the next day. Miracles never cease!
The truth of the matter is that it is easy to pray for family, friends and those people who are easy to like. It is much more difficult for me to pray for the person who stole Janet’s identity las year. I don’t want to pray for that person… but I know that it’s the right thing to do…
Our verse for tonight is from the first Gospel of the New Testament. Jesus is telling His listeners about how easy it is to greet those who love you and to love them in return. But the lesson is what tonight’s verse is about – loving your deceivers and your deceivers…
Matthew tells them, and us, in Matthew 5:43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
My encouragement this evening is that, as Christians, we are to love one another – and not to just select those people that we happen to like. My prayer is that we may experience divine grace and that God may continue to inspire us to extend our reach and try to love those folks who just aren’t so lovable in our own worldview. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…