Luke 6:27-36

Luke 6:27-36

Here was the way of the Christian life in relationships with other believers and with unbelievers. We should not retaliate or seek revenge against people who sin against us. Instead, we love people, pray for them, and bless them. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil by doing good. The Lord takes care of people who hurt us, or harm us, or steal from us, or take advantage of us. Leave that to the Lord. Do not worry about your life. Be prepared to lay your life down and love people even those who hate you. You will find people hate you simply because you are a Christian. Don't be surprised by this. Don't be surprised when people speak evil of you simply because you are a Christian. Love your enemies. Do good to them. Pray for them. Ask God to bless them with the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sooner or later you will have people take advantage of you because you are a Christian. This might be money, or your time, or your life in some way. Don't begrudge people when they take your time, or resources, and never pay you back. Trust in God with your life and resources. Don't hold on to your life or resources but let it all go. God will take care of you.

The ability to love your enemies is supernatural. The strength to love people like this can only come from God. This is not human or natural love. Human and natural love runs out of energy quickly. God's love, however, endures forever. God puts his love in our heart by the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5, "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

This scripture reminds me of the testimony of Corrie ten Boom. Her family was killed during World War 2 but after the war she preached the gospel to the people who killed her family. She had a guard in the concentration camp where her sister was killed who attended one of her meetings and he became a Christian. Corrie did not have the human strength to love this man but when she reached out her hand by faith she was filled with the Holy Spirit and enabled by God to love the one who participated in destroying her family. This love comes from God. This is the love of Jesus Christ which he makes available to us if we receive it by faith. By faith we love our enemies. By faith we pray for those who take advantage of us.

Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again on the third day. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved.