Rev Gav

Loving

Luke 6:27-29

²⁷ “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸ Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 

Reflect

Jesus was not giving his followers another list of rules or laws that needed to be obeyed but was describing what living in his kingdom (and under his kingship) was like — and it was not about obedience to a rulebook, but about a change of heart. He was saying, live like this because this is what God is like. He was saying that when you follow Him and live the life of the kingdom, then you end up taking on the characteristics of God, and what is God like? Unconditionally loving.

Jesus ploughed straight into the hard stuff — hurt and rejection — and a sign of rejection in Jesus’ day was to be slapped on the cheek. So, what about our enemies; those that hurt us emotionally or physically? What about those that reject us and slap us on the cheek? Through this passage, Jesus reminds us that we are to love them and to bless them. It does not make worldly sense, but Jesus reminds us that we are not only of this world, but part of a much bigger kingdom — the Kingdom of God. Everything in creation will eventually come under the Kingship of Christ, and we are to start living as agents or ambassadors of this kingdom now. Like God, we are called to be unconditionally loving.

Jesus was not saying that it would be easy. Anger and unforgiveness only hurt ourselves and not the people who hurt us, and sometimes, because we have been so badly hurt, forgiveness is a decision we have to make on a daily basis, however, we are all part of a much bigger story — the story of God in the world.

Do

Today, think of someone that has hurt or is still hurting you. It is going to be difficult, but make a decision to love them. Ask God to bless them and pray for them. You might find that by making this decision, something deep inside you will change and that you will become more God-like in your character.

Pray

Holy God
Right now I can think of someone who has hurt me,
and I can still feel the pain of it.
Today, I choose to love them and bless them
as you love and bless me.
Today, I choose to forgive them
as you have forgiven me.
I pray for them, that they may know your unconditional love.
Protect them, speak to them, and guide them,
and Lord Jesus, draw them into your Kingdom.
This day and for ever.
Amen.

Think

What difference does it make to us if we choose to love, bless, pray for, and forgive our enemies?