“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 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. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 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. 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… Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36
Jesus’s teachings introduced unexpected dichotomies and upended natural thinking. The One from heaven infused earthly reason with new possibilities. As astounding as His commands was His ability to change human nature to make them doable. The only way to love others, even enemies, with no strings was to stay attached to the Almighty and act in His Spirit.
Demonstrating affection and care to loved ones can come easily, an impulse borne of comfort and desire. To love and give with no expectation for return can rise from generosity of heart and compassion. But to spend ourselves with the likeliness of loss, hurt, rejection, even abuse, never comes naturally. Only in and with Christ is it possible.
Jesus left His place of glory to come to earth. Day by day during His public ministry He spent Himself, surrendering privacy, comfort, and personal preferences for the sake of His Father and the good of His people. His love exercised was unconditional, His tie to His Father imperishable. In Gethsemane and on the cross, He sacrificed the ultimate- His will and very life, to finish what the Father had sent Him to accomplish. For all He’s done for us, how can we not do the same? (Luke 22:42; 23:46)
How can we give with no strings? Use the measure of Christ! How can we return reviling with blessing? Speak from a heart filled with His Spirit! How can we forgive offenses and unjust wrongs done to us? Keep tied to Calvary! (Luke 6:38,45; Romans 12:14-21; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:32; 5:18; 1 Peter 3:9)
With whom do we find life among and love toward particularly difficult? What rights is God calling us to surrender? In what greedy hollows do we need His supernatural filling? Cling to Jesus!
“I hear the Savior say,
‘Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.’
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe.” ~Elvina M. Hall (1865)
Lord, keep me inextricably tied to You, my only hope and strength for ongoing, selfless, lavish Christ-like love to others.
As the rain and snow 