Laced With Grace – Christian Devotions

We CAN love anybody.

By Guest Blogger January 21, 2007 Inspirational, Life

Luke 6:27-36 “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, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

I was looking back through old sermon notes and came across this one. I have a couple of students…I need to pay attention to this.

The first thing – the first line says “to you who hear.” Are we paying attention? Are we paying attention?

The Greek word for love here is “agapao” – charity. Not phileos, brotherly love. This makes a difference in this passage – most of the time it’s fairly easy to love your brother, those who you naturally love. But what about others that are not so easy?
Christ’s command was to love those who hate you, abuse you and curse you. This is a love that we are to give to those who neither desire it or (in our opinion) deserve it. This kind of love removes the possibility of retaliation and it treats others the way you want to be treated.

The book of Proverbs says, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” Our behavior and our speech flows from our hearts – is it agapao that flows from our hearts? phileos? or something else?

“turn the other cheek” means so much more than simply putting up with mistreatment. Agapao turns the tables, responding with charity.

A radical love that declares that we are children of the Most High, merciful and kind.

With the help of the Holy Spirit we CAN love anybody.

As I go out into the world next week, there are “anybodies” that are not so easy to love”. Will I be determined, with this reminder, to “agapao” these people that (regardless of how I feel) are a precious part of God’s creation?

7 thoughts on “We CAN love anybody.”

  3. eph2810

    As yes, it is not easy to love or even show love to the ones who ‘curse’ you. I have found myself not liking them. But I will make a conscious effort this next week to pray for the ones who curse me. Thank you Ellen for the reminder.
    Blessings on your Sunday and always.

  4. Laurel

    This can be a real challenge. Some people are hard to love, but through the Holy Spirit we can love them. Plus it is hard to have hard feelings towards people you pray for.

    Great reminder.