Today’s Bible Reading:
Exodus 3; Luke 6; Job 20; 1 Corinthians 7: Proverbs 20
There can be no doubt about how I am to live in the world with these words of Jesus found in Luke 6:27-36.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also;
and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
These words should have an impact on what I post in social media platforms, like Facebook. Do I share that unkind photo of the public figure that I have strong feelings of disagreement about? Not if I am going to love my “enemies”, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, pray for those who mistreat me. Not if I am a daughter of the Most High-for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men and women. It is so easy to hit “share” when posts come flying across my screen, but I have to ask myself how I would feel if there was something posted like that about me. Especially when so much is laden with half-truths and ugliness. There is no love in that sort of thing. When I follow these words of my Master Jesus, it means that often times I must bite my tongue, I must refuse to continue to spread the ugly rhetoric that passes for discourse in this country. For God is kind to ungrateful and evil men and I need to be merciful just as He has been merciful to me, a sinner. I need to keep reminding myself of that and of what His love and mercy look like in this fallen world.
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra
Exodus 3; Luke 6; Job 20; 1 Corinthians 7: Proverbs 20
There can be no doubt about how I am to live in the world with these words of Jesus found in Luke 6:27-36.
“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also;
and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.
Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.
Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
These words should have an impact on what I post in social media platforms, like Facebook. Do I share that unkind photo of the public figure that I have strong feelings of disagreement about? Not if I am going to love my “enemies”, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, pray for those who mistreat me. Not if I am a daughter of the Most High-for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men and women. It is so easy to hit “share” when posts come flying across my screen, but I have to ask myself how I would feel if there was something posted like that about me. Especially when so much is laden with half-truths and ugliness. There is no love in that sort of thing. When I follow these words of my Master Jesus, it means that often times I must bite my tongue, I must refuse to continue to spread the ugly rhetoric that passes for discourse in this country. For God is kind to ungrateful and evil men and I need to be merciful just as He has been merciful to me, a sinner. I need to keep reminding myself of that and of what His love and mercy look like in this fallen world.
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra
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