Episode 211: Luke 6

Today's meditation is on Luke Chapter 6

I do not blindly follow religious traditions. The letter of the law leads to death. But the spirit of the law leads to life more abundant and eternal. I was not meant to be a slave to the Sabbath, but rather the Sabbath was made for me. Just as God rested from his work, I am to rest from mine. Even more, Jesus has invited me to rest in him every day and at any time. He has promised to give me rest. 

And so I spend quiet time each day in prayer before God. It is there that I find peace and rest. A sustaining peace that remains with me throughout the day. A refreshing rest that restores me and gives me strength. 

I am happy, blessed, and prosperous, because I am not spiritually arrogant. In fact, I know that without Christ, I am completely insignificant. But because of Christ, the kingdom of God is mine both now and forever.

I am joyful, blessed and nourished by God’s goodness, because I hunger for righteousness and actively seek right standing with God. In him, I am completely satisfied. 

I am forgiven, refreshed and blessed by God’s grace, because I have repented from my sins. I am able to laugh because the burden of sin has been lifted.

I am morally courageous, blessed and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness, even when people hate me, and exclude me from their fellowship. Even though they insult me, and scorn my name as evil because of my association with Christ. 

I rejoice and leap for joy, for I know that my reward in heaven is great. It is absolutely inexhaustible. 

I count myself blessed every time someone cuts me down or throws me out, every time someone smears or blackens my name. It just means that the truth is too close for comfort. I skip like a lamb and all heaven applauds. I know that I am in good company. Even the prophets of old were treated this way.

I do not place faith in possessions, or live a life of self-indulgence. Nor do I live for the approval of others. I don't waste my breath in flattery, nor do I seek it for myself. Popularity contests are not truth contests. And my task is to be true, not popular.

I love my enemies. I let them bring out the best in me, not the worst. When someone gives me a hard time, I respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps me in the face, I stand there and take it. If someone grabs my shirt, I giftwrap my best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of me, I use the occasion to practice the servant life. I do not seek to payback evil with evil, but I live generously.

I ask myself what I would want someone to do for me; then I grab the initiative and do it for them! If I only love the lovable, I'm no different than any run-of-the-mill sinner -- they do that too. If I only help those who help me, I'm just like the garden-variety sinners who do the same thing. If I only give for what I hope to get out of it, I'm not showing love. The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

So, I love my enemies. I help and give without expecting a return. And I know that I will never regret it. I live out this God-created identity the way Father God lives toward me, generously and graciously, even when I am at my worst. Father God is kind; so I am kind.

I don’t pick on people, jump on their failures or criticize their faults. Otherwise, I would be setting myself up for the same treatment. I don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. I take it easy on people; and I find life a lot easier. I give to others, and it is given to me, poured into my lap in good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over with no space left for more. I know that the same standard of measurement I use will be measured to me in return. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

I am careful who I follow as a teacher. I follow only those who with faith and patience have inherited the promises of God. If they do not exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, I move on. 

I am careful to pay attention to my own short-comings, rather than those of others. I have no desire to play holier-than-thou. I have plenty issues of my own to take care of. 

Just as a good tree doesn't produce bad fruit, or a bad tree produce good fruit, the same is true with people. Like trees, every person is known and identified by the fruit they produce in their lives. The intrinsically good person produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure stored in his heart; and the intrinsically evil person produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil in his heart. My mouth speaks from the overflow of my heart. And I can be seen for who I truly am, by the fruit I produce in my life.

I take God's Word as my foundation. His words are life. They are the foundation upon which I build my life. I listen to and obey God's Word, and when the storms of life come, I cannot be shaken because my life is securely built and founded on the rock.

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing. 

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