But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35 NIV
If you've watched Finding Nemo, you'll likely remember a scene with the seagulls. Marlin and Dory try to escape the relentless chasing flock who screech, "mine, mine, mine!" The message is clear that when (if) the fish are caught, there will be no sharing among the selfish seagulls.
Today's verse is about how we treat others. Yes, it explicitly says our enemies, those antagonists we may find the hardest to love, but the underlying message is to treat all people the same. Our enemies aren't to receive preferential treatment, nor are they to be mistreated.
The second sentence of the text exclaims why we should love all. Because we are children of God, and like him who shows kindness to all, so should we. Our reward comes from loving the lovable and the unlovable equally.
So why, knowing that this is what we should do, do we have trouble doing it? Becoming like the perfect example of Jesus means dying to our baser human instincts, ideas like selfishness and possession. We perceive what we have as "mine" to have and to give, whether money or love; we fail to remember (or recognize) that God is the source of what we have. But when we share from the place of Jesus, we acknowledge that it's not "mine" (ours) but His.
God, thank you for loving us. We confess we have claimed your generous gifts to us as ours to retain, and we have been selfish and judgemental in who is worthy of our gifts to others. Forgive us; we pray. Please help us to give freely with grateful hearts, recognizing you are the source of all for all. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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