on December 13, 2012
Luke 6:27-36 – "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If 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. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' do that. And 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. But 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
LOVE my ENEMIES? Do GOOD to those who HATE me? BLESS those who CURSE me? PRAY for those who MISTREAT me? TURN THE OTHER CHEEK to someone who STRIKES me? GIVE even more to those who TAKE from me? What kind of teaching is THIS? THIS IS HARD STUFF!!! Friends, this is what God our Savior has to deal with all the time – FROM YOU AND ME! While we were still His enemies He loved us! While we still hated Him, He was good to us! Even when we may have cursed Him, yet He blessed us! When we mistreated His Son and scorned the Father, He forgave us! When we struck out at the Lord of Glory, He turned the other cheek – many times! He not only gave His cloak, but His undergarment as well and He hung naked on the cross for us! Wow! Think about it!
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” We all know that this is NOT our nature! Yet, it’s the most profound principle for implementation by any society that wishes to thrive and be healthy! If everyone treated everyone else the way they would want to be treated there would be no need for courts of law, judges or prisons! Relationships would be perfect! We would not hate our brother or steal from our neighbor! We would all tell the truth and act kindly toward one another! But, this is NOT our nature! So, in order for this profound principle to become effective, we must be BORN AGAIN with a NEW nature – a nature that harmonizes with God’s nature – indeed IS, THE VERY NATURE OF GOD!
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Sinners love and do good to those who love and do good to them! They also lend, expecting to be repaid in full! Jesus instructs His disciples to love, do good and to give UNCONDITIONALLY! What’s the BENEFIT? It is recognition as offspring of the King of kings! What greater reward than to be known as a child of God? God is merciful and kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. His offspring behave just like He does! Believe me, it is godly to love those who hate you, to do good to those who curse you and to give unconditionally! Anyone who does this must have the love of God in their hearts! They are SONS OF GOD! “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” – Matthew 5:45.
Thursday:
- Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
Friday:
- Thank God for loving you while you were still His enemy – opposed to Him and His will.
- Pray for the Good News families of the week: Brandon & Sandy Burtner (Elijah, ?), Greg Conibear, Juan and Jennifer Davila (Arianna, Angelina, Gabriella).
Saturday:
- Pray that you will be obedient to love others as God has loved you, even before they love you!
Sunday:
- Give thanks that, while we were still sinners Christ hung naked on the cross for us!
Monday:
- Pray that those who are called by His name will treat others as we would want to be treated.
Tuesday:
- Give thanks for the royal position God has given us as His children. Pray that we may live like we are children of God, showing His mercy and love to others who don’t deserve it.
Wednesday:
- Pray that the mercy and kindness we show to other sinners will lead them to faith in Christ Jesus.
Prayer Challenge: Praise God that, “…at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8. Remember Jesus’ words regarding the family of God, “…whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." – Matthew 12:50. Ask God to empower you to reflect the mercy, love and generosity that He lavished on you in Christ Jesus!