Luke 6-8
Right away in chapter 6 the Pharisees are getting upset about about the disciples plucking grains of wheat on the sabbath. Can you imagine how hungry they must have been to be eating raw wheat grain? I have never tried raw wheat grain, so I have no idea how filling it might be. It seems like one would have to eat quite a bit to be satisfied.
Then we get to the parts of the scripture that people don't seem to pay particular attention to. 6:27 talks about loving your enemies and doing good to those who hate you. It seems to me that the church would be a much more accepted if people practiced this principle. Next scripture that captured my attention - 6:37 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged, do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven...". Hmmmmm. Jesus said it. Good words to live by.
Then Jesus goes on to practice what he preaches. He heals a centurion's servant, basically a gentile slave. He doesn't judge the centurion for not being of the same religion. It's about his faith. Faith in what Jesus can do. Jesus then tells the crowd, "...not even in Israel have I found such faith." I want to have that kind of faith. How about you?
The woman with the alabaster jar is another story that makes me wonder. In chapter 7, verse 47 Jesus says, "...the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little". Hmmmmmm.
My favorite story is in chapter 8 - the healing of the woman who just touched the fringe of Jesus' robe, and she is instantly healed after suffering for 12 long years. Jesus' response to her - "your faith has made you well". Just the slightest touch of Jesus can bring healing into our lives.
I think I was supposed to read 9 also, but haven't done it yet. Garth was fantastic last night. Very personal. I cried! He is so talented. No fancy stage stuff. I love the song "The River". He says he and Trisha are planning to do a road show in about 4 years.
I didn't understand what you meant when you said..."It seems to me that the church would be a much more accepted if people practiced this principle." Which church? Which people?
ReplyDeleteChurch universal (all churches). Which people? All church going people. Wouldn't you agree?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOk, so you are saying religion in general would be more accepted by non-religious people if we (the religious ones) were more loving towards them. I get the impression we are pretty open and loving to everyone else. Just take our mission trips. We put the love out there and let God take it from there.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few reasons why people don't believe: 1) They want physical proof. 2) They don't like being pushed into a belief (ie. "you will go to hell"), 3) They have never been in a desperate situation where God could help.
Yes, showing love to the haters, does help, and we do it now. Perhaps we could do it better, but I think there are other things some people must overcome to take that leap of faith. It is good to be there with open arms when they do decide to take that leap.