Be Merciful

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 6:27-36 ESV

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 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.
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Sometimes a Bible passage is so familiar
or so profoundly simple that we just can’t hear the words.
We read the passage and meditate on it
but still have a hard time getting past years and years
of thoughts, sermons, and Sunday school stories
to be able to really take it to heart.
I believe today’s passage may be one of those verses.
Just in case, let’s walk through it step-by-step
listening to our Lord’s commands one at a time.
Take time to think about each one.

Love your enemies  

Who do you need to love that you know you aren’t loving very well?

do good to those who hate you  

Who hates you, despises you, or looks at you crossly?

bless those who curse you  

Has someone cursed you?
Ask the Lord how you can bless them.

pray for those who abuse you  

Has anyone ever abused you?
Jesus tells you to pray for them.

  To one who strikes you on the cheek,
offer the other also  

Has anyone ever struck you? Slapped you?
Rather than “sockin’ it to him,” or “making him pay,”
let the offense go and allow God to take care of it.

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.  

Has anyone ever taken something from you
or borrowed it and not given it back?
Jesus says to have the attitude in your heart
of being willing to offer them even more.

 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them…
 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.

Let us look to the Lord to handle it — He is our defense.
Let us be merciful to those who harm us just as He was merciful to us
and allow Him to be the judge.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 6 and recite it 3 times.

Take it with you throughout the day.

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 either.

PRAYER
Lord, teach me to sacrificially love my enemies
as you loved me.

In His hands for His glory,

Laurie
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