Be Good, and Do Good

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)

• In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus urged us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who spitefully use us. He also said that generosity and a lack of retaliation should characterize our reaction to unreasonable treatment. Then He concluded, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise”.


• It is impossible to love our enemies. But we are commanded to do!


• It is impossible to forgive our enemies, do good to them, and pray for them, if we rely on our own strength and resolve. The strength must come from the Spirit of God. And that is what we must do. We must remember how God has treated us when we sinned against Him, and then act likewise. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful; be compassionate, just as God is compassionate; be kind, patient, and forgiving, just as the Lord is with us. Christianity is not just Christ in us, but Christ living His life through us. Let us be light and salt, be leaven, and share Christ who is our Only Treasure.


• Love our neighbor as ourselves. And do to others what we want them to do to us.

Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins,
your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Forgiveness is one of the most powerful actions
that Christians can perform.

The world doesn’t understand the ability or reasons to do this because it is most unnatural in the world.

Besides, there is pain to be overcome because behind every act of forgiveness lies the wound of betrayal.

But there is far more pain,
emotional, social, and physical damage done
when we do not forgive.

What separates Christianity from other religions?
One of the first things is forgiveness!

Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother who sinned against him. He thought he was magnanimous when he suggested seven times! Jesus replied, “…not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:22).

Jesus then shared a parable about a man who, after much pleading for mercy, was forgiven for much and yet would not forgive another person who owed him little. In the parable, the master threw the man into jail to be tortured until he paid back his large debt. Then came the conclusion: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:35).

Let us forgive others who hurt us
because God has commanded it and
because our own forgiveness depends on it.

Oh Lord,
give me a spirit of forgiveness toward others who hurt me,
just as You have forgiven me.