Luke 6:35

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked ~ Luke 6:35

I must admit that I live a protected life, for I cannot say I have "enemies". My life is pretty basic, secured, and predictable. Perhaps yours is too, and you live in much the same way as I do. But there is always that one thing we may occasionally need - mercy, and that is what is being offered here. Mercy is offered to one we have a right to not forgive and to bring harm to, but instead we offer forgiveness and our compassion. We all are liable to make mistakes with our words and actions, which lead others to become upset with us, though they may not be our actual "enemy". We need mercy when such situations arise. Mercy is what God did in Jesus Christ as He hung on the cross for our sins and in our stead. We were the enemy God showed compassion and forgiveness toward as His life was sacrificed. Paul states this in Ephesians 2:4, 5. Jesus himself in the Beatitudes said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). You received God's great gift of salvation and became His child when you accepted Him as Saviour. John 3:16 says Jesus died for the whole world, and you are a part of that world, and so am I. This was mercy shown to a world which was against Him in action and in heart, yet in His mercy, God sent His only Son for us. We have a great gift, not only of eternal life, but we have the gift of mercy, and that we are expected to pass on to others we come into contact without expecting anything in return. That is what Jesus did, we can do no less. Our enemy is God's enemy, yet even toward them He is kind. Can we do any less?
Devotion by Pastor Julia

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