S- 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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:35-36 ESV)
O- This is a tough one for me because I don't get it. I understand the words, but not the application. Do I leave my house unlocked and let those who are evil do as they wish? That seems foolish, but it almost seems to be what Jesus is teaching--What we value is foolish and we should let go of that and adopt God's values instead. I struggled with this so much that I ended up reading a sermon transcript on this passage. The sermon cover today and yesterday's passages and I liked how this quote tied both passages together. "The most painful parts of life are the most glorious opportunities to live out the kingdom ethics."
A- I have struggled with being wronged and being very, very angry with that person. Praying for this person is still a struggle. I do not want to allow this person to continue to hurt my family, but I want to allow the light of Christ to shine through in any interactions I might have to have with this person. I guess I see it that I love my children very much, and I can discipline them out of that love. In the same way, I think that people should be held accountable to laws and such, but that we can allow those in authority to do the disciplining and that we can be merciful rather than hateful. (I don't really know on this, it is a tough passage for me)
P- Praying for my enemies today.
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