“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!” Luke 6:27-33
Most churches would have welcomed the Pharisees. After all, they tithed up to 30% of their income, knew the Scriptures backwards and forwards, fasted twice a week, and were very religious.
They were also mean-spirited, stingy, and self-righteous. They twisted the Scriptures – tested and questioned Jesus. They prayed loudly in the streets, so others would be impressed with their piety. They moped pitifully when they fasted, so people would admire their self-deprivation and discipline.
Jesus saw through their religious façade, and they hated Him for it. However, Jesus said that even the Pharisees – deceptive hypocrites they were – loved those who loved them. And He challenges us today: if we only love those who are kindly disposed towards us, what credit is that to us?
The true test of love is when we are the first to forgive, when we seek to be reconciled to an enemy, when we do good to those that deceive and use us, when we lend to the needy with no expectation of return, when we treat others the way we wish to be treated. Jesus promises a wonderful reward when we act like our generous Father Who shows us how to be kind to the ungrateful and wicked (Luke 6:35).
LET’S
O Lord, let Your grace remind us that, Jesus paid the price for us to be forgiven. I pray may the Holy Spirit fill you with His power to forgive others. May your relationships be restored in the mighty name of Jesus.
Get ready; peace is coming, favor is coming, victory is coming. You’re going to see God override what’s trying to stop you. There’s no storm too strong that He can’t calm. No giant too big that He can’t defeat. No fire too hot that He can’t step into and bring you out.
No river too deep that He can’t cross. No Mountain too high that He can’t clamp, so I declare into your life this morning, go and overcome your storm, defeat your giant, cross your fire and rivers, you are the top of that mountain in Jesus mighty name. You are Overcomer, your enemies will celebrate your success story in Jesus glorious name. Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life.
Categories