Devotion for February 15, 2022

Luke 6:27-38
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to 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 hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

This passage finds Jesus continuing to suggest it is hard to be his follower. Some have even suggested that his examples here actually show ways to take power away from your abuser. To offer the other cheek or give away all your clothes are subtle ways of peaceful, non-violent resistance. Inviting the person to strike you again demonstrates a different power from one who is abusing it. To stand naked before someone would render them unclean.

To share with or to love only those who return something to you for gain is also significant in that it moves us from a place of potentially abusing our status. And then this little phrase jumps out. It isn’t the Golden Rule which is so often pointed to in this passage but rather Jesus’ exhortation to “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” For all those who twist or misquote the Golden Rule, this one cannot be. It is simple – be merciful.

Friends as we approach Lent, may we be merciful to others and to ourselves. It’s been a long two years and we all need mercy.

This devotion is brought to you by Campbell University’s Center for Church & Community.