Scripture Reading: Luke 6.27-36 Today's inspiration: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Good Morning!

This teaching is radical. Jesus must have turned the hypocritical Pharisees on their ears with this next passage--one command after another, all starting with verbs--actions for us to take and make a way of life.

Consider Luke 6.27-36 from The Message: To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never--I promise--regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind, you be kind.

It is valuable for us to 'take stock' occasionally, because as Socrates said, 'the unexamined life is not worth living.' Perhaps filling in the blanks might make it more personal--so go ahead, print this out, be specific, and then take action. (now, since we play nice these days, people may not 'curse you', or say they hate you, but they certainly may dislike you or speak against you. . . and your enemies? Well, maybe you just 'don't care for' them--you get the idea. We cover ourselves by using nicer words.)

Love your enemies ________________ _________________

who are they? names--

Do good to those who hate you _______________ ___________________

names?

Bless those who curse you ________________ ____________________

anybody?

Pray for those who mistreat you _________________ ____________________

harsh judges-- in-laws? employers? mates?

Do to others as you would have them do to you~ what would that be? How do you want to be treated? ________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Be merciful ~ what does mercy look like? _includes compassion, forgiveness, (what else?) ____________________________________________________________________________________

Could we be as radical as the message? ~loving when it isn't logical~ praying for and blessing those who are unkind to us. . . and, if I were to do to others as I would have them do to me~ well, I would give more grace, release others of expectations, give the benefit of the doubt, always believe the best, and not be easily offended. Yes, that would be a really good start!

I find it interesting that to obey Jesus' teaching requires action on our part. Christianity really isn't a passive, spectator sport, is it? All I have to say is, "Put me in, Coach, I'm ready to play. . . today. . ."

So that you may know,

Christine