Head: Know God's Word | Heart: Love God | Hands: Follow God's Way  

Read Luke 6:27-36

Head

Have you ever thought about how backwards some of God’s commands sound?

In Luke 6, we are told we should love our enemies. The only way someone can do that is if they rely on God’s help. It is really hard to think good thoughts about an enemy. Luke says to do good to people who hate you and bless people who curse you. He says to pray for people who’ve been mean to you. That is hard to do! If someone takes my coat, my first response is to get it back. However, God says I should give them my shirt too. What God is telling us to do doesn’t seem fair.

Verses 32 through 34 explain that followers of Jesus are to be different than everyone else. Several times it says, “...even sinners do that”. Even sinners love those who love them and do good to those who do good to them. There’s nothing special about that. We are to be like Jesus and He gives grace to the ungrateful and evil. He is merciful. Luke says loving our enemies, doing good, and lending without expectation will result in a great reward, and we will be children of the Most High. That sounds worth it to me.

Heart

What is your first response when you read that God wants us to love our enemies? If it seems impossible maybe your view of God and view of yourself needs to be re-examined. I was an enemy of God before I surrendered my life to Jesus, we all are. While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. He prayed for us and He gave His life for us. We give and love because He did it first. Yes, it is hard to love our enemies and give to others even if we know we won’t get it back. But with the Holy Spirit living in us, we can do it.

Maybe forgiveness is where you need to start - accepting forgiveness from God through Jesus and then forgiving those who have hurt you. A friend of mine said she was so hurt by someone that all she could do at first was write that person’s first initial down in her prayer journal. Over time she was able to write the whole name and even more specific prayers for the person who’d hurt her. Start wherever you need to and understand that forgiveness is often a process.

Hands

Take a few minutes to write down a prayer for your enemy or someone who has hurt you. It may only be their name or initial but at least your heart is trying to align with God’s. If you think of that person throughout the day, say a quick prayer for them. Example: “Lord, be with ___. Help them to know You love them. Help me to see them the way You see them.” You may have to ask God to help you forgive the person. If you’re praying for someone, it’s easier to show kindness to them.  

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for never asking me to do something You haven’t already done for me. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. I want to love my enemies the way you want me to. I can’t do it without Your help. Help me to forgive. Help me to do good to others. In Jesus’s name, Amen.