Luke 6:27-36 But to you who are listening I say: Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the
other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not
demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
If you love
those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who
love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that
to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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 children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and
wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Mercy for other people, as described above, basically means
loving someone that doesn’t love you back. Being kind where you find no
kindness. Going against everything inside of us that screams out when we’ve
been wronged. Showing mercy isn’t for the faint of heart, the weak in spirit or
sissies. Showing mercy takes a determined mind and heart to follow after Christ
and follow His lead whether we feel like it or not. No one said living a
Christian life is easy.
Acting like this requires a divine amount of grace-laced
empowerment, so good luck if you are going to try it in your own strength. The very same Jesus who calls you
to this type of life lives in you. This is the way He wants to live through you,
and Christ is going to bless you for allowing His mercy to flow through you in
a way that brings good things to those who don’t deserve it.
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