Luke 6: 27-36...
Love for Enemies
27"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.32"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
verse 27: this beyond the concept of Justice of which we are faced upon this earth. This is NOT what our enemies deserve, this NOT in our natural capabilities...this is God's love, God's grace upon you and your enemies' lives.
verse 28: the last thing as prideful, ignorant, just humans would like to do is wish something nice to someone how has hurt them. but the bible asks us to bless and on top of blessing...also praying for them. you pray for your loved ones usually....today: try praying for your enemies/people who persecute you.
verse 29: let people hurt you. Jesus did this while having the ability to crush the people who hurt him in a blink of an eye, he endured it. not b/c He didn't have a choice, but because He wanted the punishment of your sins upon Him. since Jesus did this, why can't we do that for the people who hurt us, to let them....and endure the pain as a blessing....as a mark of victory over death and sin. what they are doing to you is a sin, it would be a sin to go back and defend yourself.
30:when you give to everyone who asks you are being the true bearers of blessings. if God intended you to be steward of all the things you possess...can you remember that its not your stuff you are really giving away...but its God's stuff? And trust me God has more where that came from. so don't stress if your ipod is stolen just sit back and know that you are just a steward of blessings to come.
31: if you want your friend to share their stuff....don't ask....just show them how its done. no one likes being told what to do...so why not just be the example that you want others to be?
its so hard to be what you say you are nowaday because first off: words aren't upheld their powers in our society:
your dad promises you to go camping with you, but what happens: his business deadline gets in the way.
you tell your friend you will always be there for them, but when gossip has it that they said something bad about you...you change your mind.
let's face it...society loves to change their minds and take back their words and promises....
divorce, tardies, cancelled appointments, etc....
so for us to say: i will do what i said....needs first of all to be DONE.
actions do speak louder and more powerful than words.
statistics tell us that the number reason why people don't become christians is because most people see christians hypocrisy towards their God: Jesus Christ. they know it and preach it, but they've never seen it acted it out....that should be a smack to our own faces.
verse 32:the world already knows how to love the ones who love them....but only Jesus' followers can love the ones who don't love them. that is difference between us and the world, that we live the lives of grace instead of lives of justice and equality. we give people what they DON'T deserve because we ourselves serve a God who we don't deserve.
verse 33: sinners know how to do good to people who do good to them. everything is of great balance and equality here on this earth, but Jesus' love is overflowing that measurement of justice. and its really love that justifies us to Him.
verse 34-35: expect to lose the things God has given you, YOU are just a steward....your little object that you give away is an opportunity to give them Jesus, to show the love of Jesus. because at the end of it all: people won't wonder why you are doing justice, but people WILL wonder why you are giving them more than they deserve....which is GRACE.
grace to the unkind, undeserving, and wicked....grace to all no matter race, gender, sex, ethnicity, any physical orientation....Jesus to all through your sufferings of love. what you suffer on this earth for the name of Jesus Christ, will you be rewarded in heaven. a temporary pain for an eternity of blessings.
you choose which place to be blessed upon. a world of justice, or an eternity with undeserving love....
we are shown mercy by our father and just like our father....we will show mercy to the world. are you ready to face the world?
Let us pray:
Father Lord, we are unworthy, undeserving. Yet you given us the gift that is most desired secretly in everyone's heart. an injustice to You, but a grace to us. Lord you are amazing to our faltering emotions and our lives....God you are the rock in our stormy lives. We pray we will show all these things to the people who hurt and offend us. To the ones who hate and abuse us, to the ones we believe don't deserve mercy....help us Lord, to show mercy. we are in unbelief about your Love.
Lord help us to stand out of the crowd for the actions we live because of our love for YOU. let our fruits be pleasing and ripe in your eyes. Let us be of great approval as we submit our properties, or friends, or lives to Your great Kingdom. Lord we bow down and bring YOUR justice of GRACE upon this world that lacks real love. in Jesus Christ name we pray...AMen.
