Jesus made many practical points that we can learn from in verses 17-36 of Luke chapter 6. My focus will mostly be on verses 27-36 which prompted me to write this devotional. Prior to Jesus' lesson about how we should treat our enemy, I was not surprised by His example of grace that He allowed to be given to so many people. In verse 17-19, the scriptures states that the people came to hear Him and to be healed. Take a moment to process what is happening in these passages that we so often miss as disciples, teachers, and preachers of Jesus Christ. The scripture does not say the people came to join His ministry nor did it say that since they were not part of Jesus’ ministry, He limited His healing gift. Jesus in the flesh was a man of community and he welcomed everyone, even the ones who rejected him. The passage said He healed them all. The second observation was in verse 20-26, Jesus turned to His Disciples highlighting areas of their lives that are or will be a stumbling block in their discipleship journey and gave them a heavenly vision.  My third observation: Jesus further spoke to the heart of the wealthy who rely on their earthly comfort instead of the everlasting comfort that God promises those who endures until the end.

In verses 27- 31 He turned his attention to anyone listening and challenged them by saying “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you. 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. Give to everyone who ask you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Take a moment read these scriptures a few times and meditate on them. Jesus is not asking you and I to practice something that He Himself has not endured. Read the crucifixion account in both the book of Luke-chapters-22-24) and Matthew-chapters 26-28. In the 90’s WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) was a very popular slogan. However, as I continue to grow in my walk with Jesus, I believe WDJD (What Did Jesus Do) is a more appropriate slogan for Christians because Jesus has left us examples of how to manage everything (2 Timothy 3:16, John 14:25-27).  Our attempt to minimize or translate what Jesus said to what makes us feel comfortable, is not loving Jesus, and the Spirit of truth does not live in us (1John 3:24, 4:6). Honestly, I have heard and read different statements made about the passage in Luke 6:27-32. We often try to translate what we think Jesus meant to say, so that we can escape the clear instructions that He gives us because we cannot bear it. I am nowhere near perfecting any of these commands/challenges/instructions by Jesus and I do not think I will ever be.  However, what I will not do is act foolishly by convincing myself that Jesus does not really mean if someone hates me that I must love them or if they mistreat me, I must pray for them, if they slap me on one cheek, turn the other and so on. What I am choosing to do, is pray; asking God to help me to be obedient if/when I face these circumstances in my journey with Jesus. The fact is, Jesus demonstrated for us in different passages throughout His ministry that He meant every Word that He spoke. Jesus is God and clearly stated "my words are spirit and life" (John 6:63). If we want to stay engrafted with Him, we must obey Him (John Chapter 15). Studying the crucifixion is one of my favorite Bible studies. Starting with Jesus washing the feet of Judas who would later betray Him, to Peter denying Him as He had predicted, to Jesus’ crying "Father forgive them, they know not what they do" while they are killing Him. Then being separated from God because He took my sins, forgiving the sinful man at the cross, and the resurrection to eternal life that He promises to those who stay faithful (Mathew 26, 27, 28; Luke 23).

Jesus did not stop at verse 31, He continued to challenge men to reflect the heart of God. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:32-36). As I meditate on these commands of Jesus, I envision Him putting back God’s love that Satan has distorted and planted in mankind’s mind and heart. Satan’s love is conditional: you love me, I will love you back, you serve me, I will serve you; you forgive me then I will forgive you, etc. God’s love for you and I is always steady. Our mistakes, emotional turmoil, ‘our goodness’ and our sins against Him do not change His love for us. I love this particular verse that is part of a Christian song “Jesus loves me when I am bad but it makes Him very sad.”  Although as a mental health worker I do not like the wording when I am bad, but I love the concept of it. When we make bad choices or decisions it hurts God but He still loves us and is waiting for us to return home to his love (Luke 15:11-32). I believe there is goodness in every human being, yes even the worst person that you can think of because scripture says God"...set eternity in the human heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:10-11).  God in His infinite love calls us as His followers to love beyond measure like He does for you and I. Jesus challenges us not to just say that we love our enemy but to demonstrate our love for them through actions. Jesus in the human flesh lived in this world for 33 years and probably saw and heard it all. Consequently, his instructions to those who claim to walk with God were specific, so specific that at the end of verse 35 He reminded us why His commands are an expectation if we claim to be His followers. Jesus’ states we must be different from the way the world treats their enemy because God “is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”  “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Who are the ungrateful and wicked? I am, we are. We deserve eternal condemnation but instead. He took our sins upon Him so that I/we might choose Him (1 Peter 3:17-22, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

As I reflect on my own struggle with the area of loving others, I learned that it is easier for me to love my enemy to the extent that I have experienced in my walk with God thus far. The area that I am continuing to grow in is to love my fellow Disciples/Christians who profess to be followers of Jesus but who continue making choices that are contrary to what the Word of God teaches. My difficulty lies in my own pride that they should know better because they have vowed that Jesus is Lord on the day of baptism.  However, over the years I am continuing to strive holding true to 1 John 4:7-8, 19-20 and 1 John 3:10 that have helped me to fight against my sinful nature which is not in agreement with God’s grace and mercy. The spirit of God once convicted me that He does not need my help because He can handle his children; Annaika, you focus on being obedient to My Word (Mathew 6:15; Colossians 3:13).   In closing, take some time to reflect on the boundaries of your love for yourself, family, friends, fellow Christians and neighbors/everyone and see if it matches God’s love or Satan’s version of love. Specifically, the people whom you feel have done wrong against you or a cause that you are enthusiastic about.  Let us fight to love without any condition just as God has shown us mercy and love beyond measure.

Unmerited Grace and Love