Today's Verse: Luke 6:27

Monday, May 11, 2009

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."
— Luke 6:27
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Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus was the perfect example of this command in his life and death (Luke 23:24). Love that leads us to forgive has redemptive, life-changing power. While not everyone responds to such grace, many do. While being kind in our deeds and loving in our hearts to our enemies is not easy, God's Spirit can fill us with Jesus' love and help us live powerful lives of grace even in the presence of those who hate us (Romans 5:5). As we do, the Spirit transforms us to become more like Jesus and less and less like our old self-protective selves (2 Corinthians 3:18). As the history of Christianity shows, this miracle of this kind of love can change the lives of those who consider us enemies and bring them to God.

My Prayer...

Dear God, I confess that I have trouble with a few people in my life. They seem determined to criticize, undermine, belittle, defeat, and destroy me. Please give me the love to resist their attacks. Please empower me to respond to their actions in ways that are redemptive, righteous, and loving. Do this seemingly impossible work in my heart so that my obedience to Jesus' command can lead others to my Savior's grace. In the redeeming and mighty name of Jesus, I ask the Holy Spirit to help fill me with your love and demonstrate this grace to others. Amen.

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5 Related Resources by Heartlight

What to Do with Enemies?
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"[Jesus began teaching on our interactions with others:] "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate..."
Natural Enemies
Illustration of Luke 6:27
Inspirational illustration of Luke 6:27 -- "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."
Hear the Echo?
Article by Larry Davies
What will people hear from you? We create echoes by our life, so what kind of echo will you hear from the people around you?
Building a Culture of Honor: Prayer
Article by Phil Ware
Prayer changes something much more important than our circumstances! Phil Ware continues his series on building a culture of honor focusing this week on prayer, especially prayer as a redemptive tool of offering forgiveness and blessing to those who are our enemies and who mistreat us.
See All 5 Related Resources about Luke 6:27

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 6:27 — "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Monday, May 11, 2009

Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: 1 Peter 1:23
"Peter most earnestly exhorted the scattered saints to love each other "with a pure heart fervently" and he wisely fetched his argument, not from the....."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Jesus' Ministry Roadmap' (Acts 8:29-33)
"The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the carriage [of the treasurer of Ethiopia]." Philip ran over and heard the man..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'The Spirit Poured Down' (Is. 32:15)
"Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured down on us from above and the badlands desert grows crops and the fertile fields become forests."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Proverbs 10:27
"The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short."

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

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