Love Your Enemies
Luke 6:27-36
27 “But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Devotional: Jesus set an impossibly high standard: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you. This teaching has been attacked, ridiculed, and ignored more than perhaps any other—yet it remains the most revolutionary, peace-giving grace principle ever given. Jesus knew how difficult this would be, saying "to you who are willing to listen." Not everyone will embrace this call. But for those who do, the reward is great. When you do good, bless, pray, and give to your enemies, God is honored, the Holy Spirit works, the devil loses his grip, your enemies are confused by grace, critics are silenced, and you are blessed. Your anger dissipates. You live in peace. Nothing you do is more Christlike than showing love to those who make your life miserable.
Reflection Question: What specific act of kindness could you extend this week to someone who has hurt you?
27 “But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Devotional: Jesus set an impossibly high standard: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hurt you. This teaching has been attacked, ridiculed, and ignored more than perhaps any other—yet it remains the most revolutionary, peace-giving grace principle ever given. Jesus knew how difficult this would be, saying "to you who are willing to listen." Not everyone will embrace this call. But for those who do, the reward is great. When you do good, bless, pray, and give to your enemies, God is honored, the Holy Spirit works, the devil loses his grip, your enemies are confused by grace, critics are silenced, and you are blessed. Your anger dissipates. You live in peace. Nothing you do is more Christlike than showing love to those who make your life miserable.
Reflection Question: What specific act of kindness could you extend this week to someone who has hurt you?
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