Footsteps of Jesus

Do you have a heart that excels at loving God and others?

Maybe you struggle as a believer when it comes to loving people?

Which do you look like? Find your answer in Luke 10:31, 32 or 33? (hint-a preacher, administrator or someone from the other side of the tracks).

It is incredible to hear professing Christians pick and choose who deserves love and who deserves disdain.

As the world pulls further and further from a Biblical worldview, the more challenging it will be to love others.

People are becoming more vile and more self-absorbed every day. Even the born-again believers who have become assimilated with secularism struggle with “me first” attitudes.

Lost people around us don’t have an expectation to keep God’s moral law. We do.

As believers, we must do better. Our commitment to following Jesus demands it.

Let’s see how Jesus taught us to love, as recorded by Luke.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies!”…

Luke 6:27 (NLT)

Does the first phrase grab you? Are you willing to listen to Jesus? Either you are or you are not.

Then the second phrase tells us to love our enemies. Does Jesus mean that? Certainly! He said it and practiced it.

Do we take the easy way out with the excuse, “I’m not Jesus”?

If you are born again, Jesus should live in your soul. You should look like Jesus, more each day. By the Holy Spirit, you should love those who persecute you, a theme that runs throughout the Old and New Testaments. I challenge you to check this out.

Let the next passage sink in.

• Do good to those who hate you. 
• Bless those who curse you.
• Pray for those who hurt you. 
• If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also.
• If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 

Luke 6:27-29 (NLT)

Can you do that with no questions asked?

What about the next passage? What do we do with all of this?

• Give to anyone who asks-
• and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 
• Do to others as you would like them to do to you.

Luke 6:30-31 (NLT)

How could Jesus expect this?

Wouldn’t I be opening myself up to mean, harmful people?

We are not told to expose ourselves to thieves or abusers, but everyday relationships can still difficult individuals.

Some people, especially those who should love us most, actively seek to distress us or withdraw their love. How can God expect us to engage with them, let alone give so fully of ourselves?

Maybe this next passage is the last straw for you. Maybe you really struggle with this. Take a look.

• “Love your enemies!
• Do good to them.
• Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.

Luke 6:35 (NLT)

Why?

• “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?
• Even sinners love those who love them!
• And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit?
• Even sinners do that much! 
• And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit?
• Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
• Then your reward from heaven will be very great,
• and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High,
• for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 
• You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Luke 6:32-36

Can it just be enough that Jesus is telling you to? Can you walk so closely with the Spirit of God that He enables you to love like that?

I have learned first-hand that walking with my Savior is so precious that even the most hateful person who has touched my life has been forgiven and has received my helping hand-by God’s power and grace living in me.

Now use common sense. God’s wisdom guides His children. If someone has physically abused or threatened you, forgive them but keep your distance. Even if they have accepted Jesus, if their presence harms you emotionally or mentally, stay away. Avoid seeking retribution, gossiping, or harboring hatred or vengeance. Just forgive and let God handle your healing and their redemption.

Take a look at what the brother of Jesus had to say about this.

But the wisdom from above is… pure…peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3:17-18 (NLT)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.