Tag: Luke 6
The upside-down kingdom!
Scripture reading for March 11: Luke 6
“And He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”” Luke 6:20-23
After a great healing meeting where power had come out of Him and brought deliverance from demons and healing for all, Jesus looked to heaven and began to speak to His disciples. Jesus pronounced blessings on those of His followers who were poor, hungry, weeping and those hated and reviled because of Him. He told them that they should rejoice and leap for joy now in faith! Their reward in heaven would far exceed the troubles that they were now experiencing. In fact, they were in good company because this is how their own relatives had treated the prophets sent to them by God.
Jesus was teaching them about the invisible kingdom of God and their privilege to be a part of that kingdom. In spite of how it might look or feel, they were blessed and would be rewarded. People of faith had always been subject to persecution, hatred, exclusion, and even famine and sorrows and even death. The prophets of God had experienced this as well, even from the Israelites forefathers. These truths told them of an upside-down kingdom where what the world thought of as punishment was actually going to be rewarded. Jesus Christ, Himself, would model this attitude of joy and blessing as He suffered as the Son of God and our Savior.
As a believer in Jesus, have you ever suffered for your faith? Do you find it hard to rejoice and leap for joy when people hate you and revile you? Which one of these blessings pronounced by Jesus Christ do you most need in your life today?
Prayer: Father God, I admit that I don’t enjoy being hungry, weeping, or being hated by others because of Jesus Christ as my Lord. My experience has been limited of these things happening, but I have visited lands where it is dangerous to be a believer. Help me to live in hope and joy so I might share the Gospel by my attitude, actions and joyful life. Amen.
Imitate your Father (In Heaven)!
Scripture reading for March 11th: Luke 6
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 6:35-36 “But 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 sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
The prevailing teaching was one of ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!’ God’s people were to show restraint in paying back others who wronged them. But Jesus came along and changed the rules. He asked His people to show love to their enemies by doing good for them. If they were hungry, disciples should feed them. If they were thirsty, drinks should be provided. If they hit you on one cheek, the other was to be turned. The new rule was: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
God, Himself, is kind and loving to the wicked and ungrateful! He provides rain from heaven, the earth and all its bounty for food, and meets the needs of even the atheist and satanist! He gives them grace–the opposite of what they deserve in hopes of drawing them to repentance. He promises to reward those who follow His example!
Observations for over-comers: All revenge belongs to God. It is His goodness that leads people to repent. God is kind and good to all to win some and we must imitate our Father! “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against on of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)
Love your enemy!
Scripture reading for March 11th: Luke 6
Jesus loved to teach the people the ways of the kingdom of God. He came to preach the ‘good news’ of the kingdom but part of it sounded strange to those who heard Him. God’s ways and the way of His people would be markedly different than the way of those in the world!
“But I tell you who hear Me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:27-31) First, we must ‘hear Jesus’. Listening is not just with our ears, but with our hearts. We must always be ready to make adjustments in our thinking!
Jesus asked His followers to love their enemies and to do good to those who would mistreat them. This was a hard teaching then and now as well. God wants none to perish, but all to come to repentance. It is not God’s judgment that leads people to repentance, but His goodness and kindness! (Romans 2:4) This kindness must not be in word only, but also in deed. God wants us to reflect His kindness to those who hate us in order to reach them!
Kingdom people hear Jesus’ instruction and allow God to use them to reach their enemies! Take time today to show kindness to someone who has mistreated you or hates you! Do unto them what you would want done to you!