Jephthah: Unmerited Mercy for you enemies
Luke 6:27-36 | “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36 says, Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
What does this mean?
Do you show the same mercy God showed you to others? In what ways or why not?
How can you become more merciful (forgiving others and treating them kindly, even when they don’t deserve it)?
Who would you consider your ‘enemy’ or who in your life is hard to love?
What makes them hard to love?
Have you ever been hard to love? If yes, when?
According to Luke 6, how should you treat your enemy who is hard to love? Why?
How will you put this passage into action this week?