“The best revenge is not to be like your enemy.” ~ Marcus Aurelieus
JOSHUA 23-24
Joshua's final words to Israel...
14“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Jesus continues to teach...LUKE 6:27-49
27“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
JOURNAL
This passage in Luke is not for the feint of heart. This passage is one of those that draws a line in the sand as to what will define the believer and Jesus leads it off in his teaching on love. As I read the previous passage I am overcome with the realization of how I fail. I don't do this, there are times when I have, but not fully and it's definitely not the way I think about love or the way I think about loving others.
I tend to think of how others love me, I tend to focus on all the ways I should be justified. My focus tends to be on other's failures and my righteousness. When I put myself up to this passage it sickens me. It also exposes my selfishness and brewing narcissism.
It is impossible to live this way without Christ. As a human, my core desires go against everything said here. In our culture...following and loving this way seems as if it would lead to sure destruction. Yet Jesus tells us clearly in no uncertain terms that this is how we are to love and this is how we are to live.
How do we do this? How do I give to those who hate me? How do I lend and not expect repayment? How do I allow things to be taken and not ask for them? How do I allow someone to hurt me and continually love them in the face of that hurt? It is impossible without Christ...isolated and alone, I will fail...I will become everything opposite of Jesus' definition of love.
I tend to think of how others love me, I tend to focus on all the ways I should be justified. My focus tends to be on other's failures and my righteousness. When I put myself up to this passage it sickens me. It also exposes my selfishness and brewing narcissism.
It is impossible to live this way without Christ. As a human, my core desires go against everything said here. In our culture...following and loving this way seems as if it would lead to sure destruction. Yet Jesus tells us clearly in no uncertain terms that this is how we are to love and this is how we are to live.
How do we do this? How do I give to those who hate me? How do I lend and not expect repayment? How do I allow things to be taken and not ask for them? How do I allow someone to hurt me and continually love them in the face of that hurt? It is impossible without Christ...isolated and alone, I will fail...I will become everything opposite of Jesus' definition of love.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:7-10)
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