Our 7-year old grandson’s hamster, Gram, lived at our house for about two months.

Recently, the time came for Gram to move to our grandson’s house. Proudly and carefully, he held the tiny cage carrying his hamster, Gram.

My wife and I gently petted Gram’s soft fur. He wiggled his nose.

We said, “I love you, Gram.” Then we said “Bye”. And away Gram went!

It reminded me of thoughts I had when I’d say, “I love you” to my children. I almost always followed “I love you” with “But . . .”.  And then, I’d tell them something they didn’t want to hear:

“But, I have to leave for work now.”

“But, you have to get on the school bus now.”

“But, we can’t do that now.”

“But, you have to go to bed now.”

It repeatedly occurred to me: when I say “I love you”, do I really mean it? Or am I simply using hypocritical ”magic words” to justify me doing whatever I want to do.

There are examples in the Bible of people saying things that sound good, but whose real purpose is to mask that they’re doing things they shouldn’t do.

For example, Jesus denounced religious leaders who “devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. [They] will be punished most severely.” (Mark 12:40).

The Bible denounced people who say “Peace, peace” when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14)

I don’t think these people were being denounced for saying “Peace, peace” sincerely, when their diplomatic and military predictions simply went awry.

These greedy, deceitful people were being denounced for saying “Peace, peace” hypocritically, when they knew full well that they and their supporters were fomenting war—a war that would benefit them politically and economically. (Jeremiah 6:13-15).

These greedy, deceitful people were being denounced for saying “Peace, peace” hypocritically because they were supporting a fake “peace” of slavery and exploitation—a fake “peace” that would benefit them politically and economically. (Jeremiah 6:13-15).

These greedy, deceitful people were being denounced for saying “Peace, peace” hypocritically because they were opposing people such as Frederick Douglass, Harriett Beecher Stowe, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, and John Lewis—people who oppose any fake “peace” that benefits greedy, deceitful people. (Jeremiah 6:13-15).

These greedy, deceitful people are the type of hypocrites who Jesus warned us against:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

Similarly, not everyone who says “I love you”, who makes lengthy prayers, or who prophesies “Peace, peace” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the ones who DO the will of our Father who is in heaven.

And who are those who DO the will of our Father who is in heaven?

A few sentences later in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us who these people are:

“[E]veryone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice.” (Matthew 7:24).

Jesus assured us that anyone who hears his words “and puts them into practice is like a wise [person] who built [their] house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25 (emphasis added)).

Therefore, don’t merely say “Peace, peace”. Be sure to do peaceful things. (See my blogs listed under READ MORE.)

How?

“[L]ove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45).

In this Way of Jesus, peacemakers “will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9).

Don’t merely showoff by making lengthy prayers. As Jesus commanded us: “[D]o not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray [in ways that impress others].”(Matthew 6:5).

Instead, pray privately to the Father in the Way of Jesus who taught us to pray:

“Our father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

   on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

   as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

   but deliver us from the evil one.

(Matthew 6:9-13 (emphasis added)).

Don’t merely say “I love you.”

Instead, in the Way of Jesus, be sure to do for others what you would want them to do for you. (Matthew 7:12 (emphasis added)).

And, always be sure to pet your hamster and give him tasty treats!

READ MORE

For thoughts about how people misuse the word “forgive” to justify and obscure the bad things they’re doing, please read my blog “Abusing People with the Word ‘Forgive’”.

For thoughts about how to do peaceful things, please read my blogs “Spilling Coffee”, “Individuals and Systems, Now and Forever, One and Inseparable”, “Embracing Peace: No One Is Above Wise Laws”, “Embracing Peace: The Least of the Least”, “Curtailing Force: Reason, Facts and Wisdom”, “Curtailing Force: The Rule of Wise Laws”, “Curtailing Force: Replacing Nails with Glue”, “Ending Violence: Embracing the Spirit of Peace”, Ending Violence: Putting Faces with Names”, and “Keeping the Powers of Money, Religion and Kingdoms Separate”.

For additional thoughts arising from my grandson’s activities, please read my blogs “The Christmas Star: I Saw It in Real Life!”, “Honoring God with Only Our Lips”, “What Makes a Hero Good?”, “Video Game Strategy: Getting Crucified”, “Sprouting Seeds Takes Patience”, and “Stop Talking! Blow Out the Candles!!!”

For my thoughts sparked by our dog Toto, please read my blog “Toto Begging for Food”.

For my thoughts sparked by our cat Bootsey, please read my blog “The Star of Bethlehem Was a ‘Can of Tuna Fish’”.

For additional thoughts about putting the Sermon on the Mount into practice, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?”; “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”; “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”; and “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”.