Luke 6:35-36 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. English Standard Version (ESV)
Today's verses were part of the read through the Bible plan that I am following and the heading for the passage is "Love Your Enemy". In the account of the good Samaritan, the question is asked "who is my neighbor" and it can actually be posed as "whose neighbor am I". Today's passage begs the question "who is my enemy", and then to love them. If you read or watch the news there are plenty of enemies to go around from nations, to groups of people and personal enemies those that are or may attack you with or without reason.
Yesterday we considered how "streams of living water" may flow in and through us through the power of Christ, we are to be channels of God's love and mercy. The passage today shows how we are to be those channels. Just take a look at the verbs, the action words that are used – love, do good, bless, lend, pray for and be merciful. Okay, we can handle that, but then consider that it says to do those things to our enemies. That ratchets things up exponentially. We can't do it in our own power. It requires that power of God and His Spirit residing in us to do it.
These actions are to be habitual, continual, a part of our lives, the fabric of who we are. What a difference there would be in the world if Christians everywhere were to take up this challenge in the attitude they take up weight loss or other challenges.
Will you be a channel?
How I praise Thee, precious Savior,
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.
That Thy love laid hold of me;
Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me
That I might Thy channel be.
Refrain
Channels only, blessèd Master,
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us, Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
Just a channel full of blessing,
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation
All Thy loving message sound.
To the thirsty hearts around;
To tell out Thy full salvation
All Thy loving message sound.
Luke 6:27-36The Message (MSG)
27-30 "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
31-34 "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36 "I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.
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