Verse of the Day 4/23

Through the Bible - 2 Samuel 6-8, Luke 20:1-26

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's passage we saw the compassion in Jesus' eyes as He looked over the city of Jerusalem.  His ministry and teaching had been full of examples of compassion, most often to those who had been overlooked or looked down upon by the Pharisees and the spiritual "elite".  Think of who Jesus reached out to.  Lepers, the blind, beggars, tax collectors, prostitutes, mothers, the poor, the list goes on. 

 

Today's verse goes back to an earlier time in His ministry, but the theme is the same, to show compassion.  But it is a call to everyone.  The oppressed are even to show compassion on the oppressors, how?  By doing good things to and for them instead of seeking revenge.

He doesn't stop by telling His followers to do good,  Read what He says in today's verses.

 

Luke 6:35 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. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.   NIV

or from the Living Bible

36 "Try to show as much compassion as your Father does.    TLB

 

Tom Holladay writes in "The Principles of Jesus", "this takes our responsibility to a whole new level.  My relationship with others is molded not merely by what I want but by the example God provides.  I'm not to think about how I want to be treated; I'm to look at how God treats people.  If I'm going to live out this action of sacrificial love, it's not going to happen accidentally.  It's going to take a step - a conscious decision to act toward others the way God acts toward me."   With compassion.

 

Who needs compassion?  Everyone.  I'm reminded of the praise chorus that we've sung in church.  Here are a few of the lines.

 

Mighty to Save

 

Everyone needs compassion
A love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

(Chorus:)
Savior
He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever
Author of Salvation
He rose & conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears & failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender (I surrender)
 

What a different place the world would be if we as Christians exemplified this kind of love, mercy, and compassion in our lives - to everyone.

We are creatures of habit.  We have learned almost everything from repetion - from reading and writing to what we do on a daily basis.  Our thoughts and actions for God are the same way.  Why not sow some new seeds, cultivate some new habits, actions in serving Christ that will become our normal way of life, to show compassion?  For the glory of the Risen King.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Luke 6:27-37

 

Love for Enemies

 

27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

 

32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.

 

35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.   NLT