Who has hurt you?  Who has wounded you?  Who has abused you?  Who has harmed you?  Who has done any or all those things to people you love?  BIG PAUSE.  Now… how would GOD have you treat them?

Whether you expect it or not, when you go to God’s House for worship… sometimes He will intrude into your life whether you want Him to or not.  I know, it happened to me Sunday.  God is God and He will do what He wants without our permission.  If you have a problem with that, I suggest you get over it.  Remember Paul on the road to Damascus?

Yesterday at church the text for the message was Luke 6:27-36 (Read slowly and think):

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  29  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.  30  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

32  “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  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 get back the same amount.  35 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 is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  36  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Uhh… All God’s people said….?  OUCH!

Think!  Make the Scripture personal.  Apply it ruthlessly to those who have wounded you.  Does this passage apply to your Ex-spouse?  Parent(s)?  Boss or co-workers?  Children?  A deacon… preacher… Sunday School teacher?  A current or former minister?

Whoever it applies to… God expects you (IF you are a genuine believer), God EXPECTS YOU to do what he commands.  If you (I!) don’t, then what right do we have to call ourselves Christians or followers of Christ?

Think about it… repent if you need to… and ask for God’s help.  You’ll need it!  I do too…