Thursday 11 September 2008
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." (v.35)
Background
Jesus calls people to follow him!
But he turns our normal world views upside down. Hating enemies,giving as good as you get, hitting back, avoiding anyone asking formoney - it's all natural. Or is it?
Jesus tells his disciples that it's not the way to behave. Loveenemies, pray for people who treat you badly, don't hit back and begenerous. That's what's involved in following Jesus.
Being kind and loving and generous to those who are kind andgenerous and loving towards you is dead easy - anyone can do that!But God is kind to ungrateful and wicked people and Jesus calls youto behave like God. And not to judge other people.
If you can be like that, and also be forgiving, then you will berichly blessed.
That's what being called by Jesus demands, and what the rewardsare!
To Ponder
How easy or difficult is it for you to behave asJesus says - to love enemies, or pray for people who treat youbadly, or not to hit back?
Can you think of times when you actually felt youcould forgive people who did bad things to you? What did it feellike?
What do you think about a god who is kind to badpeople? How does that make you feel?