Today : Love As Jesus Loved
TODAY’S VERSE
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” Luke 6:27-31 (NLT)
TODAY’S THOUGHT
In today’s passage, Jesus set a whole new standard for moral behavior. That is why He starts this part of His sermon on the Mount by saying, “If you are willing to listen.” Our Lord knows how hard it is to follow what He is suggesting. But what makes this teaching even more amazing is Jesus did not just teach this, He lived it! This was not a political speech with moral platitudes given in order to get our votes. This was a mandate for those that He was calling to follow Him in His own lifestyle. If we are to follow Jesus, we must love the way He taught us. When Jesus taught about love, He went much farther than the Shema which commanded the Israelites to, “love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.” He went much farther than, “loving your neighbor as yourself”’. In today’s passage He said to, bless those that curse us and to pray for those who hurt us. Finally to turn the other cheek when hit. These are ways to truly love others. So today, let us love others the way Jesus has commanded us to.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, help me love with Your love. Help me see others with Your eyes. Help me be filled with Your compassion, guided by Your Holy Spirit, used as an instrument of Your peace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN
TODAY’S AFFIRMATION & MEDITATION
God will help me love others
Picture yourself bitter, angry and hurt. You are ready to retaliate but them God speaks to your heart. You see Jesus loving those that crucified Him and hear Him say to you, “Follow me.” You sense the Holy Spirit begin to empower you and a love toward those that have offended you. It feels right. You know that this is the way. He has called you to love so you affirm, “God will help me love others.”