Bless Your Enemies

When someone sneezes, we might hear these words - "bless you," which should be followed by the words "excuse me." Jesus uses the word "bless" in a bolder and more resolute way: He said, "But I say to you who hear ... bless those who curse you." (Luke 6:27). Instead of acting unfavorably toward those who act unfavorably toward us, Jesus says we are to show to them the kindness and favor God has shown to us, which is immeasurably abundant! "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." (Luke 6:35 ESV). Don't miss those last few words ... "He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." As we might expect, from the cross Jesus showed kindness to His mother BUT He also was merciful and kind to those who nailed Him to the cross and to the thief next to Him. Hear what Jesus said - See what Jesus did ... bless your enemies.

Pray for Your Enemies

Do you keep a prayer list or prayer journal? Of the names written there, how many are names of those who have mistreated you? I suspect most of us have written their name ... off! Jesus said, "But I say to you who hear ... pray for those who abuse you." (Luke 6:27). Our initial reaction when we are treated unkindly is to pray for ourselves - healing of wounds inflicted, grace to forgive - not for the one who has caused the hurt. From the cross Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them ... they know not what they do" ... a model of how and for whom we should pray! While Jesus is suffering from physical affliction, He doesn't think of Himself but selflessly focuses on the ones who in their sin have hurt Him. Pray for the ones who hurt you! Hear what Jesus said - See what Jesus did ... pray for your enemies.

Do Good to Your Enemies

My grandparents would often say "one good turn deserves another," which is a great way to live life - don't we wish everyone lived by this rule! Jesus said, "But I say to you who hear ... do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27). That seems backwards and upside down, doesn't it? It;s not natural nor do we care to do good to those who openly practice bad behavior toward us. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20). Goodness is modeled for us in Jesus' Who willingly chose to "do good" to those who hated Him ... by the way, that is you and I. Before Christ, we were those no-good sinners who hated Him - the very enemies of Jesus yet Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. Hear what Jesus said - See what Jesus did ... do good to your enemies.

Love Your Enemies

No doubt, all of us can name at least one "unlovable" person: it's not that they are really "unlovable" ... just difficult to love. Jesus said, "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies ..." (Luke 6:27). The ideal response we all long for from everyone is a loving one; when it is not, we know exactly how to respond in like kind. Nothing raises the dander than someone who - without cause - acts selfish, unkind and disrespectful toward us. But Jesus said, "love your enemies" and consider what Jesus did: "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). While you and I were still sinners - yes, enemies of Jesus - He loved us ... that is, He went to the cross for us. We do not get away with just "saying" we love our enemies, we are called to prove the depth of that love by acting contrary to how the sinful nature cares to respond. Jesus said it then He did it ... love your enemies.

Because He Lives

Have you ever predicted something to happen, anticipated it, not surprised by it yet when it actually happened, you found yourself stunned by it? In Matthew 17, Jesus said to His closest friends, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him" (V.22a). Jesus said these words with all confidence, absolute authority and unquestionable predictability! Not only was He the Son of God, He knew it was His about to complete His mission by willingly handing Himself over for crucifixion. It was The Father's will - it was The Son's obedience to The Father. We must not miss the rest of what Jesus said: "and He will be raised on the third day" (V.22b). The next verse tells us His disciples were distressed by such an announcement, and later distressed as they scattered after Jesus' death. Surely the words He spoke mere hours before resounded in their minds. As we enter [what is referred to as] Good Friday, we might wonder what was "good" about it. The cruelty of the cross is almost overwhelming; like Jesus' disciples, our minds halted by the God Man taken by evil men and means then put to death. Oh, but those last nine words of Jesus unleashe deliverance and hope to our sinking souls! "An empty tomb is there to prove our Savior lives" - indeed, it is because He Lives we get past the horrors of Friday, the foreboding sadness of Saturday. He may have predicted the terror of Friday but He promised the victory of Sunday ... Because He Lives!