Best Response for Enemies!
Father, thank You for Your influence upon today’s sermon. I knew You were with me as it came together, and I could tell by the looks on faces that You were speaking to people in our services. May Your word bear much fruit! Amen.
Luke 6:27-31(<<click to read the passage)
I tell you; I have some of the most heinous crimes committed on my bus. And it may surprise you, but they occur on my elementary route!
Several times a week I will have students come up, usually kindergarteners or first graders, and tell me that – brace yourselves! – “So-n-so is looking at me!” I’m sorry, I hope that wasn’t too upsetting for you! Or maybe they were called a name – and we’re not talking anything gross or degrading or inappropriate. They might be called “silly” or even “cute”. I had one kindergartener at the beginning of the year – and I can’t remember the harmless and somewhat complementary name that was used – but she was put out and told me several times about it!
Now, many we see these interactions as cute and funny but for some of the students, It can be pretty traumatic! Many are still navigating the pathways of social interaction – what is appropriate and what is not. You can tell that some have certain boundaries that are adhered to in their home settings – and they attempt to hold other children to the same boundaries usually without much success – and others have almost no boundaries whatsoever!
Of course, adults don’t have any issues, do they? Yeah, right!
In this passage from Luke’s Gospel Jesus is admonishing his listeners to do some pretty difficult things.
-
- 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 I suggested these things to my kids, how do you think they would respond? Would they thank me for the opportunity to do so? Or would they look at me like I was crazy?
And, honestly, wouldn’t we respond the same way?
I have to admit, reading through those words for this first time as I sat down, my reaction to them was on the edge of saying, “Yeah, right!” And I can’t even tell you how many times I have read these words and heard these words and taught these words. But isn’t that the knee-jerk reaction to those kinds of things?
So, how do we even begin to tackle these assignments? For starters read through those verses from the Amplified Bible.
Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you, bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever strikes you on the cheek, offer him the other one also [simply ignore insignificant insults or losses and do not bother to retaliate—maintain your dignity].
Once again my Life Application Study Bible notes are spot on!
Jesus wasn’t talking about having affection for enemies; he was talking about an act of the will. You can’t “fall into” this kind of love – it takes conscious effort. Loving our enemies means acting in their best interests. We can pray for them, and we can think of ways to help them. Jesus loves the whole world, even though the world is in rebellion against God. Jesus asks us to follow his example by loving our enemies. Grant your enemies the same respect and rights as you desire for yourself.
Remember, if we are striving to be a citizen of God’s kingdom, it is upside down compared to the kingdom of the world. It may not be easy. If fact it may not do a bit of good, from a worldly perspective, to do what Jesus has commanded but…it might surprise us how it does impact others. And it will surely impact us.
How many situations in life would be diffused if we would turn the other cheek and love and bless and pray? Only God knows…but we can, too, if we will obey.
Feb 9th, 2020, Sun, 12:54 pm
Plant the Seed Deep
What a day, Father, not all that I thought it might be. Other things would have been best if they had not been. But amidst it all, You are the constant. Thank You for who You are.
Luke 6:24-26 (<<click to read the passage)
I occasionally post entire sections of Scripture when they speak louder than anything I could ever say. First of all, Hebrews 4:12 speaks very clearly in reference to Scripture – God’s word.
(One thing I will interject, we who have been around the church for a while have a very bad habit of seeing a passage of Scripture and realizing we are familiar with it, and then we just skim through it.
For those who fall into that category and for others who do not, I would challenge you to deliberately read through these passages. Don’t rush through them, read them slowly. Allow them to sink into your soul. Think of it as planting seed. In this case, we are not just talking about broadcasting seed willy-nilly here and there, but each seed needs to be firmly planted in responsive soil so that it will then germinate and grow and reproduce itself in our lives as God meant for it to.)
For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (AMP)
That is the impact that God’s word has upon us, especially when we allow it to impact us the way God wants it to.
Now, please, read today’s passage in the same manner.
But woe (judgment is coming) to you who are rich [and place your faith in possessions while remaining spiritually impoverished], for you are [already] receiving your comfort in full [and there is nothing left to be awarded to you].
Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God].
Woe to you when all the people speak well of you and praise you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way. Luke 6:24-26 (AMP)
Lord Jesus, I would think that at least some portion of what You said in this passage would hit its mark in the way we live our lives…and, honestly, it stings! May we take to heart the words we have read, and may our prayer be that they would be planted deep within our souls. May they grow and produce fruit in our lives as is Your intention. Amen.
Feb 6th, 2020, Thurs, 7:15 pm
Upside-down Kingdom
Father, it is a wonderful feeling knowing that You are with me each day – lifting me up, encouraging me, enabling me to accomplish the tasks before, helping me to, in Your strength and love, to abide in You. Praise Your Holy Name!
Luke 6:20-23 (<<click to read the passage)
As believers in the salvation that is offered to us by Jesus, quite often our lives are a challenge to live out day by day. Though now that I have typed that out, the entirety of humanity struggles with that. The big difference, of course, is that those who follow Jesus are not going through those struggles alone – Jesus is by our side all the way!
Another difference is that those of us who struggle in God’s kingdom, truly are swimming against the tide of those whose allegiance is to the kingdom of this world.
One thing that we must grab hold of and hold close to our hearts is the proclamation Peter made in his epistle.
…you are a chosen people. You are [a royal priesthood] a holy nation, God’s very own possession. 1 Peter 2:9a (NLT)
We are sons and daughters of the King of glory! We will be victorious because our King was and is and will always be the Victor! And regardless of what the world’s kingdom says or does, without any doubt that will never…ever…change!
But for now…we strive to live out God’s call upon our lives in this sin-ridden world.
Something of which we must be aware is that God’s kingdom is diametrically opposed to the world’s kingdom. They are polar opposites of each other. What the world claims is right and worthy are at the other end of the spectrum from what we know is right and worthy in God’s eyes. In essence, we live in an upside-down kingdom!
Just reading through today’s passage it becomes clear. Things this world holds as undesirable are the goals of followers of Jesus.
Here are verses 20-23 from the Amplified Bible. I have separated them from each other and placed emphasis on important words. Take and moment and read slowly through the passage.
“Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are you who are poor [in spirit, those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for the kingdom of God is yours [both now and forever].
Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied.
Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted].
Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people hate you, and exclude you [from their fellowship], and insult you, and scorn your name as evil because of [your association with] the Son of Man.
Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for your reward in heaven is great [absolutely inexhaustible]; for their fathers used to treat the prophets in the same way.
Lord Jesus, may we embrace what it truly means to be a part of Your eternal kingdom in the here and now. Amen.
Feb 5th, 2020, Wed, 12:57 pm
He Is Not a Magician
Father, thank You for safe runs this morning, for an enjoyable lunch with my wife, and a productive day between my routes – answers to prayer!
Luke 6:17-19 (<<click to read the passage)
Reading through this passage I am trying to get a picture in my mind of what it would have been like to be with Jesus. The physical aspect of it alone makes me think of footage I have seen of Elvis Presley or the Beatles at the height of their fame being mobbed by their fans. I’m sure there were people pushing in from every side trying to see or touch Him. People trying to see would be pressing enough but literally the attempts to touch Him would have been crazy! He was one man. I think it would have been hard to breathe even!
It must have been wild, but would we have done any different? Think of all the people you know who are sick or dying. Wouldn’t we all do whatever it took to have them healed if we could do so?
Early on in the Gospels Jesus asked individuals not to share what He had done (most recently Luke 5:14) but to no avail. Word spread like wildfire! Here’s what my Life Application Study Bible has to say about Him being swarmed like He was here in today’s passage.
For many, he had become a magician or a symbol of good fortune. Instead of desiring God’s pardon and love, they only wanted physical healing or a chance to see spectacular events. Some people still see God as a cosmic magician and consider prayer as a way to get God to do his tricks. But God is not a magician – he is the Master. Prayer is not a way for us to control God; it is a way for us to put ourselves under his control
It makes you stop and think. God’s greatest desire is to have a relationship with each of us. Not just some overlord/servant kind of thing but a real, deep, loving, passionate, intimate, know-everything-about-each-other kind of relationship. And I for one am so grateful that He stays after us. He never gives up! …even when I fail Him. …even when I forget about Him.
Back in 1986, one of my favorite Christian artists, Larnelle Harris released this song. I think it’s fitting to close with it.
♪♫♪ I Miss My Time with You ♫♪♫
There he was just waiting,
in our old familiar place
an empty spot beside him,
where once I used to wait
to be filled with strength and wisdom
for the battles of the day
I would have passed him by again
but I clearly heard him say
(chorus)
I miss my time with you
those moments together
I need to be with you each day
and it hurts me when you say
you’re too busy
busy trying to serve me
but how can you serve me
when your spirit’s empty
there’s a longing in my heart
wanting more than just a part of you
it’s true
I miss my time with you
What will I have to offer
how can I truly care?
my efforts have no meaning
when your presence isn’t there
but you’ll provide the power
if I take time to pray
I’ll stay right here beside you
and you will never have to say.
(chorus repeats)
Feb 4th, 2020, Tues, 1:09 pm
His Team
As I am been preparing for Sunday, Father, my text speaks of a wisdom that is not of this world but is of the Spirit. May my heart and mind be attuned to that wisdom. Use me as a vessel for Your work. Amen.
Luke 6:12-16 (<<click to read the passage)
I am not into sports all that much but my wife’s family? They are into sports! My father-in-law played the major three in school – football, then basketball, then baseball. Her brother followed suit – even playing football in college. Karen played volleyball herself. My son, Massey, enjoyed playing football from when he was little all the way through high school.
In the last year or so a cousin’s daughter and a niece, one in volleyball and one in basketball, have found themselves in challenging situations. They both excelled in their field and pushed and trained and practiced, and either their teammates just didn’t have the skill and ability they did or the rest of the team just wasn’t that interested in investing any time in developing the team – they didn’t practice and played half-heartedly.
I’m not well-versed on a lot of the technical rules and whatnot but one thing I do know is that it takes a whole complement of players to make a team. You can’t have a good football team without a talented quarterback. But the quarterback, no matter how good he is, can’t do what he needs to do unless his offensive line can protect him from the defensive line of the opposing team.
The men that Jesus appointed apostles made up His team. It was a mix of personalities and abilities, but He chose them all because of what they could bring to the table.
1 Corinthians 12 is a wonderful, Spirit-inspired passage from the heart of the Apostle Paul.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ…we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. … If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. … The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. (verses 12-15, 17, 18, 21, 26,27 NLT)
Today we all make up Jesus’ body – His team. We are all different. We all contribute different things. But each of us is valuable and when we don’t do our part the team doesn’t function as well as it could.
Feb 3rd, 2020, Mon, 1:02 pm