Key Thought

Our stuff often owns us. We can even get more attached to our stuff than to the people in our lives. When our things are taken from us, we can be more concerned about the things than we are about the heart of the person who took those things. God wants us to be generous with others, just as he is generous with us. God poured out his grace so lavishly. Do some people abuse that grace? Absolutely! Is God sorry he offered us his grace? Absolutely not! Some people will abuse us financially or take advantage of us in a "deal." Rather than destroying the reputation of the church and bringing ruin on ourselves through bitterness, we need to forgive and let go of what anchors us to the world.

Today's Prayer

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O Father, give me open hands and an open heart to deal with those around me generously. Please help me from becoming bitter toward those who take advantage of me. Help me control my desire for "my justice" and seek after your grace, mercy, and generosity. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"I say to you people that are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those people that hate you. Ask God to bless those people that say bad things to you. Pray for those people that are mean to you. If a person hits you on the side of your face, let him hit the other side too. If a person takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt too. Give to every person that asks you. When a person takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back. Do for other people what you want them to do for you. "If you love only those people that love you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners love the people that love them! If you do good only to those people that do good to you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners do that! If you loan things to people, always expecting to get something back, should you get some special praise for that? No! Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! "I'm telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do these things, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High (God). Yes, because God is good even to the people that are full of sin and not thankful. Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy.

— Luke Luke 6:27-36 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.