If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect payment,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners,
expecting to be repaid in full.
Luke 6:32-34 New International Version (NIV)
But to you who are listening I say:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:27-28 (NIV)
LOVE WHO????
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.
If someone takes your coat do not withhold your shirt from them.
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes
what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Luke 6:29-30 (NIV)
We are to GIVE love rather than TAKE revenge.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31 (NIV)
The Great Commandment
Love God with all you’ve got.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
-Jones translation
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)
We are called to not allow our behavior, our actions, or our words
to be controlled by the behavior, actions and words
of those around us.
“As they struggle with the slaying of five of their children in a
one-room schoolhouse, the Amish in the Lancaster County village
are turning the other cheek, urging forgiveness of the killer
and quietly accepting what comes their way….
‘The hurt is very great,’[said an expert on children in Amish society]. ‘But they don’t balance the hurt with hate.’”
CBS News
Am I going to allow someone else’s behavior, actions, and words
determine mine, or am I going to allow that image of God
that we were born with shine through my behavior, my actions, my words?
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?
Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
And if you lend to those from whom you expect payment,
what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners,
expecting to be repaid in full.
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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:32-36 New International Version (NIV)