11 years ago
Daily Devotion: Tuesday, November 25, 2014
DEVOTION: Luke 6:27-36
27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
I don't know what to make of things going on in Ferguson and the surrounding communities. It is just sad. I'm just saddened and angered by evil. Evil will take every opportunity to do more evil and to get others to do evil. There is more than enough evil to go around. There is terror on every side. There are people who know nothing of God, or grace, or forgiveness, or repentance.
I learned a long time ago that you can't make people do what they are supposed to do. You can't make people be good. You can't make people believe in Jesus. Jesus himself couldn't do it, why do we think that we can? And no amount of new laws, National Guard presence, right verdict, or anything at all is going to stop evil on the earth, Nothing but the love of JESUS!
The question for you is how are you going to react? Are you going to react in hate, anger frustration, racism, fear? I have read some comments on Facebook already and I am ashamed at some of the comments made by supposedly Christian people. As Christians we are called to be people of justice, peace, and grace. We don't tolerate evil or excuse it, but we also don't take vengeance and we don't act out in hate or anger toward anyone.
We pray, and pray, and pray, and pray. We do good to those who hate us. We bless those who curse us. We give our cloak to those who need to take out tunic. Lend, and do good, and expect nothing in return.
I know it is hard. It is hard for me too. I can't stand to see evil win, ever. But God has called us to something greater. He has called us to live in the world but not be of it. He has called us to bring grace and peace into every situation.
Make no mistake, justice will be done. GOD'S JUSTICE! He will bring ultimate justice to those who do wrong and do not repent and believe. Pray that those looting, and burning, and shooting, and whatever else repent so that they don't suffer the ultimate punishment of hell forever. Pray that those who have done this junk will pay honestly for their actions according to the law so that they are caused to repent and turn from their sins. Pray for yourself that you react according to God's will and that our conversations and your actions will be seasoned with grace and love.
Let us pray: Lord, bless the law enforcement in Ferguson that they would remain safe and none get injured or killed. Turn the hearts of all sinners to repentance and forgiveness. Do Your justice in this and may Your will be done so that even through this more and more may come to know you as Savior and Lord for the day of salvation. Amen.
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27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
I don't know what to make of things going on in Ferguson and the surrounding communities. It is just sad. I'm just saddened and angered by evil. Evil will take every opportunity to do more evil and to get others to do evil. There is more than enough evil to go around. There is terror on every side. There are people who know nothing of God, or grace, or forgiveness, or repentance.
I learned a long time ago that you can't make people do what they are supposed to do. You can't make people be good. You can't make people believe in Jesus. Jesus himself couldn't do it, why do we think that we can? And no amount of new laws, National Guard presence, right verdict, or anything at all is going to stop evil on the earth, Nothing but the love of JESUS!
The question for you is how are you going to react? Are you going to react in hate, anger frustration, racism, fear? I have read some comments on Facebook already and I am ashamed at some of the comments made by supposedly Christian people. As Christians we are called to be people of justice, peace, and grace. We don't tolerate evil or excuse it, but we also don't take vengeance and we don't act out in hate or anger toward anyone.
We pray, and pray, and pray, and pray. We do good to those who hate us. We bless those who curse us. We give our cloak to those who need to take out tunic. Lend, and do good, and expect nothing in return.
I know it is hard. It is hard for me too. I can't stand to see evil win, ever. But God has called us to something greater. He has called us to live in the world but not be of it. He has called us to bring grace and peace into every situation.
Make no mistake, justice will be done. GOD'S JUSTICE! He will bring ultimate justice to those who do wrong and do not repent and believe. Pray that those looting, and burning, and shooting, and whatever else repent so that they don't suffer the ultimate punishment of hell forever. Pray that those who have done this junk will pay honestly for their actions according to the law so that they are caused to repent and turn from their sins. Pray for yourself that you react according to God's will and that our conversations and your actions will be seasoned with grace and love.
Let us pray: Lord, bless the law enforcement in Ferguson that they would remain safe and none get injured or killed. Turn the hearts of all sinners to repentance and forgiveness. Do Your justice in this and may Your will be done so that even through this more and more may come to know you as Savior and Lord for the day of salvation. Amen.
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