THIS EPISODE:
Is this even possible? ⇢ Amid a global pandemic, an election year with the highest of stakes, and the evils of racism exploding in front of us—fear, anger and anxiety are at an all-time high for almost all of us. How should we respond to the “perfect storm” of adversity roiling around us right now?
As Christ followers, it's important—urgent even—that we do whatever we can now more than ever to LOVE the people around us. And I'm not just talking about the people it's easy to love. Not just family, friends, or the people we agree with about most things. Not just the people who treat us well, and with whom we typically see eye-to-eye on things that matter.
The fact is, as Christ-followers we share a profoundly challenging mission to actively love even those people around us who we find the most off-putting and hardest to love or even understand.
Is this even possible? And if so, how? What does it really look like?
Let's unpack this and more in today's message…
PRIMARY TEXT:
Luke 6:26-37 (ESV)
26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
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[b] 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.
