emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) (06/23/91)
Luke 6:32-36
"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 who 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 sons of the Most High, because He is kind to
the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father
is merciful."
This passage talks about a different kind of love. A love that doesn't
come by natural instinct. It's a love motivated by compassion and
selflessness. It's a love that loves just for the sake of loving. It's
a love that doesn't look at the recipients worthiness of it, nor of the
givers gain of it. It's a love that is given simply becasue the giver is
a lover.
This is the kind of love that God has. And there is a joy in giving out
this type of love because one who loves this way is loving like the Most
High and experiences the very joy of God Himself:
Jesus said:
"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as
I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that
your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other
as I have loved you." (John 15:10-12)
God is a lover and loves to give love! Notice it says that "He is kind
to the ungrateful and wicked". Such a person may chose not to even believe
God exists, yet it written that even to such a person He is kind. Even
to those who do evil, He shows kindness.
There is an account in which the apostle Paul and Barnabas are speaking
to the people of Lystra who did not even acknowledge God but idols.
Yet Paul spoke to them:
"We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless
things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and every-
thing in them. In the past, He let all nations go there own way. Yet
He has not left Himself without testimony: HE HAS SHOWN KINDNESS BY
GIVING YOU RAIN FROM HEAVEN AND CROPS IN THEIR SEASONS; HE PROVIDES
YOU WITH PLENTY OF FOOD AND FILLS YOUR HEARTS WITH JOY."
(Acts 14:15-17)
The very fact that we have well-being is God's kindness upon all men:
upon those who love Him and upon those who don't love Him. He loves
all the same.
And this is the love that is spoken of here. So let us therefore love
with God's love and experience the greatest reward.
God's blessings upon you,
John Emery
emery@tc.fluke.COM