The Key Is Love
ICS Daily Devotions
Luke 6:27, 32-34 (NKJV) “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,… “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
As believers, we should all enjoy righteousness, peace, love, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Are you currently experiencing these in your marriage, friendships, and work life? If not, we ought to examine whether we are living in accordance with how God desires us to conduct ourselves.
For example, some people stay awake, harbouring anger because they are upset by someone’s actions or words directed at them. They feel hurt, frustrated, and angry. They desire to take revenge and make that person miserable for all they have done to them. However, holding grudges and bitterness, along with unforgiveness in our hearts, will cause us to lose our peace.
Practising what is advocated in this passage is challenging. Some people even struggle to love their extended family, so how much more difficult it is to love our enemies! However, it would be very unjust and demanding of God if we were unable to love our enemies and our loved ones.
In the opening passage, Jesus contrasted the behaviour of believers and unbelievers. He clearly wanted believers to behave differently, so that we can be the salt and light of the world. We must love those who love us, but we cannot limit our kindness and goodness to only those who are kind to us. He desires us to treat and love everyone, including our enemies, with unconditional love.
We are born-again believers. Everything changed when we were born again. We were used to feeding the soul and the flesh before we were born again. The soul is very self-centred. It encompasses our emotions, thought life, and everything centred on ourselves. The more we feed it, the more problematic it becomes. The soul will dictate how we think and behave towards others, especially when we feel wronged. However, when we are born again, we possess the nature of God. We can do it because God has enabled us to do so.
Matthew 22:36-39 (NKJV) “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
Sermon Series: Dying to self
