But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you.
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
Read: Luke 6:17-36
Consider: When Jesus addressed his comments to those ‘… who are listening’, it didn’t just mean those within earshot. It meant those who were paying attention. Jesus knew there is a diference between those who hear and those who really listen and are willing to put what he is saying into practice.
In the verses quoted above from Luke 6 there are four negatives – ‘enemies’, ‘hate’, ‘curse’ and ‘ill-treat’. Jesus knew that those who follow him would experience this negativity, but he also knew how it could be overcome. For each negative a positive is given – ‘love’, ‘do good’, ‘bless’ and ‘pray’. From a human perspective this would be an impossible ask, yet Jesus asks it of those who follow him.
None of this is possible without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. When your natural inclination is to retaliate, let the Holy Spirit guide you to love, do good, bless and pray.
Pray: Father, you know how easy it is for us to respond negatively to adverse treatment by others. May we be so filled with your Holy Spirit that our natural reaction becomes to love, do good, bless and pray. Amen
Every blessing
No Condemnation 