So if there’s anyone listening, let me say this to you: Have compassion on the bad guys of your
life. Be nice to the mean ones. Answer well those who cuss you out. Pray blessings on those who insult and abuse
you. If a cop pushes you, give him the
opportunity to beat you up. If a
creditor steals money from you, offer him the rest of your account. If the government demands something from you,
give it freely. And if a cop steals what
is yours, don’t demand it back. In
whatever good way you want people to treat you, treat them that way, no matter
how badly treat you.
Look, if you only feel
good about those who feel good about you, do you think God will bless you for
that? Everyone, no matter how bad they
are, love those who love them. If you do
good things only to those who do good to you, do you think God will bless you
for that? Everyone, no matter how evil,
does the same. If you loan out money
only to people who will pay you back, do you think God will bless you for
that? Evil people loan out money for a
return, plus interest.
You can do better than
that. Love the people you find most
unlovable. Act with compassion toward
them and lend them money—yes, I know you won’t get the money back. Just do it, knowing that you won’t get
anything back for it, not even a thanks.
But you will get more back than you would ever expect, but that from
God. If you do this, you will be acting
like God, the Lord of the Universe—because He, too, does compassionate acts for
those who never thank Him and who do the very worst acts on earth. So be compassionate to the same extent God
is.
Don’t condemn others and
you won’t be condemned by God. Don’t
punish for punishment’s sake and you won’t be punished by God, either. If you release someone from a grudge, God
will release you. Give freely to those
in need—no matter who they are—and God will give freely to you. It’s kinda like a keg party. Take, let’s say a third of keg of beer and
give it to your friends. They will take
it, shake it up until it fills the keg and then pour it all over you—much more
than you gave them! Even so, the amount
of compassion you give to those who don’t deserve it will be poured right back
on you!
Luke 6:25-38, SKV
Jesus is the Prince of shalom, the emperor through which
peace and justice comes. Not only does
he bring it physically, among his people, but Jesus also has given some
principles upon which shalom can be built among his people.
Community
Jesus didn’t come to deliver individuals into shalom, but to
create a nation of shalom. We cannot see
the grace of God as only visiting individuals, but God is creating a community
through Jesus who will be able to make a community of peace and justice among
themselves.
Be ready
The people of God are to keep one eye on this world and one
eye on the world that is to come. The
meeting point between these two worlds is the judgment of God. Those who showed themselves faithful to Jesus
and God will be delivered into God’s kingdom of shalom. So to be ready, we must follow the other principles
of shalom to show that we are ready to be a part of God’s shalom.
Faithfulness
The first principle of life is faithfulness to God. If we live with our eyes on God, always
concerned with our faithfulness and devotion to Him in all aspects of our lives,
then we will be ready to experience God’s shalom, instead of the shalom of the
world. We also maintain faithfulness to
others—our spouses, friends, family and all others. Whatever promises or commitments we have made
to them, in our relationship with them, we keep.
Do not harm
We make a point not to do anything hateful to another, with
a purpose to harm them. No matter what
they have done to us, we do not do harm in return. This may put us in a position of
vulnerability, but we must trust that God will care for us and avenge us when
necessary, not taking such actions on ourselves.
Some we are obligated to respect—our betters, our
leaders. But we are also to respect
those whom the world does not respect, the outcast and shamed. If we provide respect to all, then all will
receive welcome and hope and shalom.
Meeting other’s needs
We are not just to not give harm, but to offer respect to
others, but we must also give compassion to others when they are in need. We need to feel their pain and seek to do
what we can to help. Then, we should
share what resources we have to help others.
This empathy and open handedness is summarized in the Greek word, koinonia.
Equality of justice
Finally, Jesus emphasizes that these community
principles—faithfulness, no harm, respect and koinonia—are not just for those like us, but for everyone, even if
some fail, even if some are irritating, act hatefully occasionally and are
occasionally faithless. Respect and
assistance is to be granted to everyone without exception.
If we are in Jesus, we are to live out these principles,
create communities that live these principles out and teach it to others. In this way, we are to accomplish God’s
shalom for ourselves, our communities and, eventually, the entire world
The SKV. That's a good version. Thank you for calling me to Peace today. I need it.
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