Extraordinary Living

TODAY'S READING: Gen. 15, 16, 17; Luke 6

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 6:27-36
²⁷ “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. ³¹ Do 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. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. ³⁴ And 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. ³⁵ 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. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

OBSERVATION: When I became a Christian and started reading the Bible this passage was the first one that struck me like a ton of bricks. It still catches my attention every time I read it. Jesus makes it clear in his words that we are to live extra-ordinary lives. No one forgives his enemies and blesses those who wrong him. But that is what Jesus calls us to. We have to live differently from sinners. He makes the point that sinners love those who love them and lend to others when they expect to get repaid. Christ is glorified only when we avail ourselves of his power to live a completely different quality of life from those who don't have relationship with him.

APPLICATION: The application is simple: Forgive those who hurt you and those who purposely do you harm. We really aren't "allowed" as Christians to hold grudges.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to live the extraordinary Christian life. I need your Holy Spirit to do it. May I bring glory to you by causing others to note the difference between how I respond to offenses created by others and how most people respond. Thank you so much for the amazing grace and forgiveness that you pour out on me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.