That Love Thing Again Luke 6

 That Love Thing -Luke 6:27-38 

"How am I to ascertain whether or not a company of professing Christians, whether in a church, a Bible Institute or anywhere else, will truly help or hinder me? In this way: Does their teaching and influence make my conscience more tender or more callous? Does it emphasize the loftiness of the holy standard God has set before me and make me realize how far, far short I come of it, or does it make me pleased with myself? Does it foster pride or humiliation?"

~ Arthur Pink, "Letter to Lowell Green, June 3 1934"

This quote is very helpful to our Christian growth I believe.  Where we go to Church, if we go, and we should if possible is important.

Today's Sermon is more of a meditation, than a sermon with points....

 Today's reading is from the Sermon on the Plain again, and it hits home for a lot of us of course who listen.  Luke 6 :

"27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."

As I looked and thought about these things , I saw the crux of the matter ." 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.  There it is.  That is the reason we should do this as well.

" Is there anything known to us that is more discouraging than the Sermon on the Mount? ...the moment we face the actual demands , we see that they are quite impossible to the natural man. " D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

 That is the whole point as we looked at last week. Without a change of heart, there is no possibility of doing anything pleasing to God. We need His grace inclining us to do what we cannot do. One verse summarizes the difficulty, " And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye?KJV 6:33 "for even sinners love those that love them." ESV here The word for thank for ESV is benefit. The RSV says ," and what credit is that to you?" The original word is grace or charis...."God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them." If we have received His grace, His grace will then enable us to extend that as God does. That is the whole point.

No one looking at the demands of the Sermon of Jesus ( Mount and plain)here can feel anything but lack. Only by God can we do anything of grace , that is loving our enemies, and doing good to others. " Love for one's enemies is an expression of the charity that flows directly from the love of God. Christ prays for those slandering hi while he suffered on the cross." Ambrose

VS. 31 we know as the golden rule. " And as you wish that others would do to you, so do to them." In the reading from Genesis 45 we learn Joseph, though sold into slavery by his brothers, realizes that God had a purpose in bringing him into such a powerful position in Egypt. " 45:7- " And God sent me before you to preserve a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive" Forgiveness is a powerful instrument. " Forgive and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37 ( set free)

Set yourself free from critical judgment as you would wish to be judged as well. This does not mean not making judgments or decisions, but in the manner in which we do it.

We get wrapped up in the opinions and judgments of others, and God is left out. We should be in a position when our feelings are not dependent on others for God has the last word. Of course some are encouragers, but not all---perhaps we could say this trait is in the minority.

 As we come to Lent soon, these are the things we need to attend to. Our listening to God must have priority so that when we encounter people who are not helpful to us, we can learn how to handle situations in a godly manner. Our doing often takes priority over our being and our postion by faith in what Christ has made us, ---a new person. Old things are passed away and all things are new.

Going to  the 40 Days before Easter (Lent) is a time for spiritual renewal and life. These passages in Luke challenge us to know God's will in a better and new way. ST Augustine calls this the " two wings of prayer." " Forgive and you will be forgiven." " Give and it will be given you." "These are the two wings of prayer, on which it flies to God. Pardon the offender what has been committed, and give to the person in need."