Monday: WHO DO I LOVE?

Apr 10, 2023
2 min read

Luke 6:27-36

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Jesus calls His followers to love, do good, bless and pray for those who oppose Him. To love in this way is to love unconditionally; to do good is to do right and honorably; to bless is to speak well and praise others; and to pray is to come near to God for their benefit.

Jesus likewise calls His followers to offer, not to withhold, give and not to ask for possessions taken from you. There is a deeper meaning here also: don’t seek revenge or retaliate in kind, lest your emotions become like the one who is after you. If we retaliate in kind, then we are responding in the flesh rather than with love, blessing and prayer.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

Jesus said I am called to love those who don’t love me and who don’t do good to me. When I do, I’m responding to them in a way that they don’t understand. Some are after me so that I will respond with retaliation; when I don’t, they are confused, as they do not understand God’s ways or His love. When I respond with love and blessing, I am demonstrating to them the love of God.

There is also a message here about expectations. I shouldn’t expect anyone to love me or to return my love, especially when they haven’t shown love before. When I give to one of them, I should hope for nothing in return, that is, from the flesh. If their heart changes because of the love that I show them, I credit it to God changing their heart and praise God with them.

Jesus asks me to be merciful, and when I am, I teach God’s mercy to others.

Lord, thank You for your everlasting mercy. Help me to implement this difficult principle in my life, so that I can demonstrate Your love to others. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman