diff --git a/content/bible_journal/luke_6:27-36.md b/content/bible_journal/luke_6:27-36.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb5a975 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/bible_journal/luke_6:27-36.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ ++++ +title = "Luke 6:27–36" +date = "2022-11-11" ++++ + +### [Read the passage.](https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Lk6.27-36) + +When studying the Bible, it's incredibly important to look at the context of a +passage. Verse 27 starts with the conjunction "but", which indicates a contrast +between what was said before it and after it. Verses 24 through 26 are the woes +pronounced against those who have lives fulfilled in this world. Instead, Jesus +says to His hearers, be like this&emdash;and He gives several actions and +attitudes that He wants them to practice. Again, like the beatitiudes from the +beginning of the sermon, they don't make sense from a worldly perspective. + +They are also really hard to get right all the time, as they are against our +sin natures as well. Doing good to those who hate you is really hard. When +someone curses you, the immediate reaction is to get mad and think hard +thoughts about them, at the very least. Blessing them is the last thing on your +mind. The one that struck me the most was "Give to everyone who begs from you". +I've definitely been guilty of not doing that. + +Jesus continues with an explanation for His sayings. If we only love those who +already love us, we are no different from anyone else. The same goes for doing +good and lending money while expecting to get something in return. But if we +sacrifice our time and money for other people, He says God will reward us well +because He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (That's us, by the way.) Our +motivation should be to "pay forward" the mercy that God has given us to the +people around us. + +* * * + +Help us to see people as You see them.