Luke Chapter 6: Verses 35-36 (NLT Translation)
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Jesus tells us not only to forgive our enemies, but to do good to them. We might want to have little as possible to do with those who don’t like us; in fact we would probably prefer not to be in their company for any longer than we need to. But to do them a good turn? Yet Jesus says that we should. Why? Because that’s what Jesus did for us. When we were not remotely interested in the things of God, or perhaps even mocking those who were.
God is kind even to those who don’t want anything to do with Him, and He expects His followers to do the same, because that’s the mark of what a Christian as a follower of Jesus should be. And compassion touches lives in a way that nothing else can. Being on the receiving end of kindness when we have done nothing to deserve it, touches us even if at first we might not acknowledge it. Kindness is a powerful tool in God’s hands. It’s not always easy, but with the grace and mercy of |God we can show mercy and compassion to those who need it, no matter what they’ve done. Because that’s what Jesus did for us!
Dear Lord,
Help me not to discriminate and only show mercy and compassion to those I love, but to follow Your example, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, to all those who cross my path, whoever they are, and whatever they’ve done. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.