Live Love

This question is tough to answer regardless of your underlying worldview. Both evolutionists and creationists. Personally, if chickens were around with Adam and Eve I believe God created the chicken and had them lay eggs. Amen? But I see the conundrum the question raises in some people.

A conundrum is a rarely used word that means a confusing and difficult problem or question. AKA a riddle. In order to explain this as clearly as mud, I checked out what Wikipedia had to say.

Wikipedia state that the chicken or the egg causality dilemma is commonly stated as the question, "Which came first: the chicken or the egg?" The dilemma stems from the observation that all chickens hatch from eggs and all chicken eggs are laid by chickens. "Chicken-and-egg" is a metaphoric adjective describing situations where it is not clear which of two events should be considered the cause and which should be considered the effect, to express a scenario of infinite regress, or to express the difficulty of sequencing actions where each seems to depend on others being done first. Plutarch posed the question as a philosophical matter in his essay "The Symposiacs", written in the 1st century CE.

(Aristotle first raised the idea as a rhetorical question in 4th century B.C., 300 or so years before Plutarch.)

(BTW Many of the pages of Plutarch’s books are missing, so you might not even find his answer to the question there.)

I believe that the best way to answer this particular causality dilemma, conundrum, or childish riddle, is to say “Who cares?” and move on to more practical matters. Like enjoying eggs with your Sunday brunch.

Perhaps you are wondering where I am going with this, well focus up! I am getting there.

Some things are not worth overthinking. When you want answers and guidance count on the Holy Spirit and the Bible to provide them. And don’t worry too much about how God works out the details. Just start doing it.

Our text today is one of those things- Just listen to Jesus’ message and let the Holy Spirit lead you into living it out in your lives. Don’t spend too much time questioning whether or not God needs to empower you to follow this practical application of discipleship; or is this something that believers need to decide to do and seek to conform their lives to the example. The answer is yes, both are true. If you trust in Jesus instead of your own power and authentically try and live the way Jesus commands you will see these attitudes grow in your life.

God wants us to treat other people as God treats us. We shouldn’t be focused on gaining every advantage we can. Jesus set aside the advantages of being God and did what was very costly to himself because we needed Him to do it. Jesus died on the cross for us. The least we can do in response is to Live Love, which just happens to be the title of today’s message.

Luke 6:27–38 (CSB)

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then our reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do no condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Live Love: The Text In Its Context

This is the middle section of the sermon on the plain that we heard last Sunday, beginning at Luke 6:20. We heard Jesus lay out two very different ways of life which lead to being blessed or cursed. Jesus commend the life style of discipleship. Disciples need to be poor in spirit and realize that they must rely on God. They need to be spiritually hungry, chasing holiness the way a person who hasn’t eaten for a week desires a meal. They need to be sad about the sin in the world and hate the sin in their life.

This section now explores some of the ethical implications of discipleship, with special reference to how we should treat other people and to the effect that this may have on our own relationship with God. Take note how Jesus reveals His authority in the message. He makes radical demands on the allegiance of those whom he has called to follow him.

The people who were dirt poor and physically hungry probably thought Jesus was the answer to all their problems when He laid out the Kingdom blessings and woes, but this was simply crazy talking. Who would let somebody hit them and then simply turn the other cheek. The enemies of the Jews were the Romans. We are supposed to love them. They tax us to death, make us carry the soldiers baggage when they march through our lands, are often physically abusive.

Love Your Enemies

Disciples should love and do good to those who do not love them. That is the example Jesus gave us, and called for us to follow.

1 Peter 2:21–23 (CSB) 21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

Jesus defines loving your enemy as doing something good for the people who hate you. Take a moment and think of a person who hates you. Who comes to mind? And what did you imagine doing to them? I saw a few smiles, maybe even quick smirks out there. It is hard to imagine doing something good down to our haters, far easier to day dream about getting even. The deserve it, right? They need to know they cannot gossip about you, or sabotage your life so they get what they want!

Jesus says that when people tell you they wished you were dead, or hurl even more vile, hurtful, curses don’t respond by cursing them. Speak with spoken blessings. Not in sarcasm or judgement, an actual heartfelt blessing! Not easy at all, it requires a mature character and much effort. It comes as you authentically follow Jesus, though. We call that character the Fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus says repay their hate with love and an act of unearned kindness. So a ter you have responded to their hate with a verbal blessing, ask the Holy Spirit to show you a way you can be a blessing to them. Then live love by acting on the leading of the Spirit. Do a good deed to those who hate you.

Finish with praying for the people who have hurt you by praying. Actually you might need to start the prayers as they are cursing you and hurting you, before you bless them in word and deed. It i God’s truth that it becomes impossible to hate anybody that you sincerely lift to God in prayer.

If someone wants to borrow something from you, let them. Do not hold back in selfishness. Give in selfless love. Do no sit down and figure how much interest you will get or whether you have a good chance of getting the loaned item back. If yo can help them- help them!

We should be prepared to help others, even to our own disadvantage. Such n attitude reflects the way God treats people.

Judge Rightly And Forgive Generously

Our treatment of others should be generous and forgiving, not critical and condemning. Tho e who put others first will themselves be treated generously by God. Jesus reminds us that we reap what we sow and in the amount that we sow. If e judge others, we open ourselves be judged. If e forgive, we shall be forgiven, but if we condemn, we shall be condemned (see Matt. 18:21–35). If e live to give, God will see to it that we receive; but if we live only to get, God will see to it that we lose. Thi principle applies not only to our giving of money, but also to the giving of ourselves in ministry to others.

Judge not, lest you be judged might be most quoted verse in the Bible, often used by people who don’t believe in either God or the Bible but hope that you will stop talking about sin if they quote it.

And there are many Christians who do need to be reminded we are not God. We ant to join him in judging the world. We point out all the evil people to God so He can wipe them out of the world. Sometimes we call it tough love. The need to know they are sinners, and if we thump them with a big enough Bible maybe they will realize they are sinning. If they don’t stop sinning stop loving them.

God’s ways are different. Than k God that God’s ways are different. Go forgave me, and continues to be merciful to me in my weakness. Do you know Jesus? The you have experienced God’s response to sin the same way I do. No judgment. No condemnation. No heaping punishment. God sent Jesus to the cross your your sins and mine. Jesus died for that sinner you are condemning as you hear these words. Jesus died for that person. Forgive!

We are called to know sin from holiness. That requires we are able to rightly judge. We are not called to judge whether or not a person is worthy or receiving our love. We are called to love! Tell God’s truth about sin to sinners, but do it a manner consistent with how God has dealt with you.

If we see fellow believers sinning we are called to confront their sin in Matthew 18:15-20. If he church is in agreement with the sin, and the believer doesn’t repent, we are to treat him like a Gentile and a tax collector. That means no Lord’s Supper, no vote in church decisions, no leadership role. We treat him like the sinner he or she is. And how do we deal with sinners? We love them and seek them out. So we love him sacrificially, seek him out to see how he is doing, and pray that the Spirit works on their heart. We treat them like any other sinner, we love them and spend time with them.

Sodom and Gomorrah burned, and those that follow their ways will eventually join them in the fiery pits of Hell. But let God decide when and how that will happen . Till He does pray that all sinners find a Christian to love them, and lead them to Jesus. Maybe the Holy Spirit is calling for you to do just that.

Love Like God Loves You

Don’t think of His commands as a series of rules to be obeyed. They describe an attitude of heart that expresses itself positively when others are negative, and generously when others are selfish, all to the glory of God. The only way we can achieve these attitudes is by God changing our hearts. Still, we are called to desire to live the love in the way that Jesus describes Kingdom love.

What will you get out of all this? You w ll be acting like your heavenly Father. You will be showing mercy to others who do not deserve your mercy. This is how God shows you mercy when you do not deserve it from him. Act like that in love. He will call you His sons and daughters.

You will also be shining light and love into a very dark and harsh world. Seeing a Christian living out these principles is one of the ways that God bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. People seeing others loving like God loves us don’t understand what is happening, and they are often compelled to find out why and how this love exists. This leads to new believers learning how to live God’s love and the process keeps repeating.

Living Love Today: Contemporary Application

Conventional responses to personal affronts is to get even. Give n insult in response to being insulted. Make sure that people know you will stand up for yourself- so if somebody hurts you they need to be hurt back.

Many people take that to a whole other level. They keep it real, or in international diplomacy they practice mutual assured destruction. You slap me, I will knock you out cold. You steal from me I will wreck your entire life. Go shock and awe on anybody who threatens you. We know the way the world works.

But lets recap what Jesus is calling for!

Jesus said to!

Love you enemies (6:27–28, 35)

Put aside concern for your rights, and allow yourself to be abused and exploited(6:29)

Never refuse a request (6:30)

Allow people to steal from you by permanently borrowing your stuff (6:30, 35)

Don’t judge others (even when they are clearly wrong?) (6:37)

Forgive everyone (6:37)

In a world of sin, where violence produces violence and evil begets evil, believers are called to a radically different standard. Christians are not to lash back at others, but that doesn’t mean to ignore we are to ignore evil or injustice being done to others.

Loving enemies and doing good to those who hate reflects exactly what God did for us. While we were sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6, 8). To love our enemies means to reflect the nature of God, who loved the world despite its rebellion (John 3:16). Just s Christ’s remarkable act of self-sacrificial love produced reconciliation between God and human beings, so our self-sacrificial love and service to others, in the power of the Spirit, can break the cycle of hate and violence and produce authentic reconciliation.

We must have wisdom to know when to turn the other cheek and when to claim our rights (John 18:22–23; Acts 16:35–40). Even Christian love must exercise discernment (Phil. 1:9–11).

John 18:22–23 (CSB)

22 When he had said these things, one of the officials standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit me?”

Acts 16:37–38 (CSB)

37 But Paul said to them, “They beat us in public without a trial, although we are Roman citizens, and threw us in jail. And now are they going to send us away secretly? Certainly not! On the contrary, let them come themselves and escort us out.”

38 The police reported these words to the magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens.

But even when we claim our rights we need to do it in a gentle and loving way.

Dostoevsky is a good illustration of this. He followed Jesus, and served four years of exile with hard labour at a prison camp in Siberia, followed by a term of compulsory military service. Despite the circumstances, Dostoevsky consoled the other prisoners. He was even credited with giving some a reason to continue to live. He described the living conditions as be intolerable closeness in summer and unendurable cold in winter. All the floors were rotten. Filth on the floors an inch thick; one could slip and fall ... packed like herrings in a barrel ... There was no room to turn around. ... Fleas, lice, and black beetles by the bushel .. The whole building smelled like a port-a-potty badly in need of cleaning and emptying. There was only one small bathroom for over 200 prisoners.

In a world ruled by law, grace stands as a sign of contradiction. We want fairness; the gospel gives us an innocent man nailed to a cross who cries out, “Father, forgive them.” … Having embraced Christ in the hellhole of a Siberian prison, among cell mates who mocked his infirmities and despised his advantages, Dostoevsky understood grace at its most contradictory. In his novels, it enters stealthily, without warning, silencing the skeptics and disarming the cynics. Th y think they have life figured out until suddenly an encounter with pure grace leaves them breathless. — Philip Yancey

Points To Ponder

“Disciples” by Trent C. Butler

The term disciple implies several important ideas in the Scriptures. It speaks of repentance and faith for salvation, dedicated Christian living, identification with and service to Christ, and telling the good news to others.

The primary emphasis of the word points to various aspects of a person’s Christian experience. The actual English term is derived from the Latin word discipulus. In the first century this meant a pupil or a learner. The word was often used in the philosophical world to speak of a philosopher’s understudy. The equivalent of the term in New Testament Greek carries the same idea of learner or pupil.

We see the word used extensively in the four Gospels. Moses’ disciples (John 9:28) and the followers of John the Baptist (Mark 2:18) are classic examples. It is also used to denote the disciples of the Pharisees (Matt. 22:16). Of course, the New Testament usage is primarily concerned with the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, it is used once again as a learner or pupil. Those who encountered Jesus and became his committed followers and learners were known as disciples.

It is clear that the many people who came to Jesus had varying degrees of conviction and loyalty. Thus, there is a broad as well as a narrow connotation to the term as used in the four Gospels. The highest concept of disciple in the Gospels relates to the Twelve (Luke 6:12–18). In the Acts of the Apostles, the word takes on a definite absolutist connotation. It was the accepted description of those who had come into full faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.

This entire theme can be summarized by saying that a disciple was:

a person who became a believer (Acts 11:26)

one who became a learner of Christ and thus his follower or pupil

a believer who is committed to suffering and living a sacrificial lifestyle for the sake of Jesus Christ (Luke 14:26–27, 33), and

one who fulfills the ultimate obligation of discipleship—to make disciples of others (Matt 28:19–20).

[Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 98.]

“Call to Love and Mercy” by Darrell L. Bock

To exemplify love in a hostile world is difficult. It takes a supernatural perspective and a change of thinking. The world is used to dealing with people either on the basis of power, utility, or equal exchange. The idea of simple service and unconditional love are not in vogue. When Jesus calls us to love our enemies, I have a hard time seeing that love in the way we communicate with those who possess different values from our own. We must hold to our convictions while communicating a sensitive, loving concern. The world may misunderstand us, but that does not allow us to be insensitive or to harbor misunderstanding towards them.

Love, doing good, blessing, and praying for those who are our enemies also assumes another reality, that we are in relational contact with the outside world. The ability to be struck on the cheek means we are in striking distance and have risked making the effort to have contact. The fortress mentality that sometimes invades the church is a form of retreat, as well as a denial of what Jesus calls for from disciples in this sermon. It is an abandonment of the very relational ground that can turn a Saul into a Paul. To give to those who beg means we know where they can be found. To love as we wish to be loved means acknowledging the dignity of other people as made in the image of God. To love in a way that does not reflect some personal payback is to offer the world a different kind of love that is not based on what the self receives but on what we can give. It is to love in a way different from sinners.

Sadly, often we cannot love so selflessly even within the community of God, much less to our enemies. By failing to love, we fail to reveal the loving and merciful character of God. Perhaps one reason evangelism fails is because people cannot see the grace of God evidenced in the church’s relationship to herself. To accomplish such an outreach and evidence such love means to depend totally on the Father, who will reward those who reflect his character to a needy but hostile world.

The connection between God’s blessing and our ability to love should not be missed. Because of his blessing to us and our appreciation for him, we are able to love others. Because he gave, we can give. Because we know the joy of receiving from him, we are motivated to give to others. The actions Jesus calls for in his sermon apply to others what he has already applied to us. The deeper our understanding and appreciation of what God has done, the better prepared we will be to reflect his character to others.

Other attitudes also need to be developed. The Lord notes that overflowing blessing comes to those who are slow to condemn and quick to forgive. A censorious spirit is not open to love, since it is constantly evaluating everyone and everything around it. Judgment against another person is to be left in God’s hands, and his judgment will be correct (cf. Rom. 12:17–21). This does not mean that the community lacks accountability, for Jesus addresses that question in verses 41–42. It does mean that people have a tendency to be hard on others while being lax on themselves. God’s revealing how he transforms us is what should drive us, not a joy in finding others at fault. As forgiven people who rest in the reconciliation God’s kindness brings, we should be quick to reflect such kindness to others.[Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 197–198.]

A Week’s Worth Of Scripture

Monday Galatians 5:16–26 (CSB)

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Tuesday 1 Corinthians 4:1–5 (CSB)

1 A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God. 2 In this regard, it is required that managers be found faithful. 3 It is of little importance to me that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I don’t even judge myself. 4 For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 So don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God.

Wednesday Romans 5:6 (CSB)

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.

Thursday Matthew 18:15–20 (CSB)

15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

Friday 1 Peter 2:21–23 (CSB)

21 For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23 when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

Saturday Matthew 18:21–35 (CSB)

21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”

22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.

23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’

29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”

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