Luke 6:32-25 reads:
32 But if you love those who love you, what credit 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 credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. (NKJV)
As you see here in scriptures, We are told to love, do good and lend. To hope for nothing in return. In doing this we will be the sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the thankless and evil....Evil?
In the Greek, evil or poneros means: calamitous; also ill, diseased; but especially morally culpable, derelict, vicious, fanciorous, neuter, mischief, malice, or guilt; masculine the devil, or sinners. bad evil grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked.
Okay, now I can see why the word evil is used, because without Christ I resemble most of those wonderful definitions. The unthankful...well that's easy. Do you thank God for all the blessings of the day let alone your daily meals? We take most everything for granted, especially in America.
But what is this truth that the bible tells us about?
We are to love the sinister, scurvy, foul, gross, vile, grave, facinorous, felonious, nefarious, shameful, scandalous, infamous, villainous, heinous; flagrant, flagitious i.e. shamefully wicked; atrocious, incarnate, accursed, ill, those caught in calamitous situations i.e. a state of deep distress or misery caused by major misfortune or loss, sterile, liable, morally reprehensible, malice i.e. to act with the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness....
I guess this would be those that are un-thankful and evil.
BUT...we are to love them...our enemies and to do good and lend hoping for no return.
Vulnerable...Humble...in Christ we can and are commanded to do this.
Now I ask for you to lend me your ear, Hear God's voice in the calling of ministry to the lost. For the ministry of reconsilation of the world, and I do not mean the easy ones. No I ask for your prayers and help in reaching the un-thankful and evil. For I used to be in that crowd and someone prayed for me...reached out for me.
Luke 6:36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (NKJV)
By the grace of God....we are saved.
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteAmen. We are saved by the grace of God. I was sharing my story with a friend of my neighbor. His name is Shane, a single dad of an 8 year old son, and he just moved in with my neighbor about three days ago. It turns out he had a similar story. His life was really messed up, hung out with bad friends, ended up homeless at one point, and now he believes, by the grace of God, his life has turned around. He manages a division of a supermarket and is determined to be the best dad for his son. I don't think he knows God yet, but has some understanding that God is responsible for all that's happened in his life. It seems like God may have put him there for a reason, and I pray that I have multiple opportunities to share the things of God with him. I have been praying for my neighbors since I was saved by the grace of God (that's almost 10 years!) because they are notoriously pleasure seeking party people. I shared the gospel on a few occasions but they didn't seem to be interested. I actually grew up and played with the three children next door, Jessica, Rena, and Paco. Their mom and dad divorced a few years ago and now only the mom lives there. There's always people coming in and out... uncles, loud friends who drink and party all night... Now God sends someone who He has changed to live there. So will you pray for Shane and his son Kevin? It's not the best environment to raise an 8 year old child (I already see his deviousness but he seemed to be good kid as i was playing basketball with him. very courteous and considerate and obedient to his dad and to me) but if Shane walks right with the Lord, there's no telling where He can take Kevin and the rest of the family living next door to me.
Anyway, I thought I'd share that with you. Yes, keep loving those who are wicked, and pray pray pray for the lost. Oh that we would be persistent in our praying and in our seeking the Lord. God grant us faithfulness to Him and a passion for the lost!
btw, the title of the post "Vulnerability" is misspelled. hehe.. must be the teacher in me to point out such things. God bless you this week!