Show them Jesus

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

SHOW THEM JESUS

Luke 6:27-31

27 "But I tell you who hear me: 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 strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 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.

NIV

Here it that golden rule we have heard about for years, do onto others as you would have others do onto you. That does, in some sense, seem introspective, being concerned so much about others treat us that is motivates us to certain behavior toward them. But here it is. Jesus tells us if people hate us because of him, we should love them instead of hating them back. If they insult us, that is strike our cheek, we should not insult them back, but let it go and smile at them, as if it meant nothing. If anyone takes anything of ours, we should not repay that same action, but offer more. That is not easy, as it seems to oppose the human nature. But that is just it, we should not be controlled by our human nature, we should be controlled by our spirit, which is born again, a new creature, like Christ. Of course that is easier said than done. How exactly do we love an enemy? Which enemy is he referring to? Does he mean those who would wage war on us as a country, or those who hate us, therefore are against us, so then being an enemy, because we are believers? That word enemy is defined as an adversary and that would certainly apply to those who refuse to accept Jesus, therefore we should not judge or condemn them, but love them, show them kindness, goodness, mercy and compassion. The fact is when we treat them as we would like to be treated we treat them well. There is no division among us, we are the same people, the same as everyone else. The only difference is we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, and they have not, at least yet. What caused us to accept Jesus? Did we find him all by ourselves, or did someone love us enough to tell us about him? Surely the Spirit is the one who convicts men of their sin, it is not us. Yet the reason for the actions of the Spirit are motivated by God’s love for them, just as he sent Jesus for that reason. So of we want to be accepted and loved, so we accept and love them. Show them Jesus.