Our scripture this morning is Luke 6:27-31.
But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away. Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.
Jesus teaches us a new and better way than what the world practices. He tells us “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you”. This is a hard lesson to accept and even harder to put into practice, but He expects nothing less from those who follow Him.
This puts into perspective His command to love one another and to “treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you”. It teaches us that people are more important than things, that our relationship with them and God are far above money, possessions or status.
Jesus wants us to respect each other as children of God, not for what they can do for us. He tells us not to retaliate for what they may do to us. In John 15:18 we hear “if the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first”. Jesus is asking us to be more like Him, loving the world in spite of how we are treated, because He first loved us.
Gracious God, You sent Your son to love and save and free us, showing us how to live as You intend. Help us to love and forgive as He did. Amen.
