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Luke 6:31-37 (NAS): ""Treat others the same way you want them to
treat you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them. "If you do good to those who do
good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "If
you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.
"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 Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. "Be merciful, just as
your Father is merciful."Do
not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned."
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There is a sharp disconnect between these words of Jesus about life on earth
and the institutions or organizations which claim to represent him. In fact, many of the individuals claiming to
be his followers are just the same … and even with this glaring fact, Jesus is
still asking only one thing of all who are his followers: get and the keep the beam out of your own eye as you live out these words. Jesus did not says this for others, even
unjustifiably hurt others, to run around and condemn people. He spoke these words to all people and called
all who will to follow him. He said it
and he lived it out loud right to and through his crucifixion and unto his
resurrection. Why are we so quick to
excuse ourselves from these very direct instructions about living on
earth? Perhaps the following are some of
the major influences:
·
We don't think this will work out well so we don't engage.
·
Religion has taught us that the Father really isn't all that
merciful and so we aren't either.
·
We fear/despise being "taken advantage of" more than
believing Jesus and insuring a "great reward" in/from heaven.
·
We've been wrongly taught that our status as God's children is
primarily about our theological position rather than our actually engaging the
words of Jesus.
·
Culture (secular and religious) teaches us that being
"right" is more important than anything. Jesus teaches us that being near him and
loving others is the most important.
Whatever
other influences should/could be added to this list the conclusion seems to be
the same. Jesus is calling us all out
(Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc.) … directly confronting us in our daily lives
and saying to all "Follow me" this way (cf. Luke 6:46-49).
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The world is willing for us to "coexist" and heaven instructs us to
follow Jesus and literally LOVE each other. Loving and coexisting are not
the same thing. The world (secular
and religious) at its best wants me to stop hating and Jesus calls me to start
loving. Jesus always starts at love,
leads with mercy and then faces the facts.
The world (secular and religious) starts with facts which often become
the justification for no mercy and then calls it love. What am I to do? I am to personally,
intentionally live out loud the words of Jesus. Heaven knows I will need help
to do this and it stand ready to help every time I engage these words. Jesus isn't Dr. Phil from heaven offering
self-help. He is the friend of sinners and the Savior who offers help! Today, I
will engage his words, ask for his help and follow/stay near.
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Lord who loves and who is love,
Today
I have my assignment from you … to love you back and to love my neighbor
(anyone and everyone who's not me). You
call me to follow you by treating others the way I want to be treated. To
believe, know and live out the mercy which is actually the way the Father is
toward all … even the ungrateful and wicked.
Today, I really do want the beam out of my own eye and the light of your
presence shining into me. Lord, I admit
I can't get hate out but I can bring love in; I can't get darkness out but I
can bring light in; I can't get anger out but I can bring compassion/mercy in.
You are love, light, mercy and more. I
throw open my complete self to you and ask, come in and stay.
I
ask in Jesus' name,
Steve
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