Luke 6:27-38 NIV
27 “But to you who are
listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless
those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone
slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your
coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to
everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand
it back. 31 Do to
others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love
you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you
do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners
do that. 34 And if you
lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love
your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get
anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of
the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be
merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will
not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and
you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and
it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and
running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use,
it will be measured to you.”
Crystal Blue Persuasion
Notice how all of this passage in Luke are words of Jesus. Read,
listen and take all of them in.
Here, Jesus is speaking to individuals. Jesus is speaking a
message for each person present. And not only present in that time and space.
Jesus speaks to us as well… individually.
Some people liken this message of Jesus to the “Golden
Rule.” You know, treating others as you would want to be treated by them. This deals
with our relationship with one another, summed up as loving your enemies. Living
the “Golden Rule” will make us happy. Whoa there, now! How’s that!
Your behavior is not to imitate your friends, or even your
enemies, behavior. Rather, look to Jesus actions and behavior. Jesus does not
look for revenge. Jesus responds with love. But, that’s some tough stuff for me
to do. Especially when I ponder what my enemy has done to me, to become my
enemy. I’ve been wronged, after all!
The “Golden Rule” seems so high above what I can do that I
tend to excuse myself from any attempts to fulfill this rule. But Jesus lived
up to the “Golden Rule.” And I know… because I say it all the time, “Point to
Jesus,” that Jesus, is my Leader to emulate.
What Jesus teaches in this passage is moral and spiritual
principles that rule the Kingdom of God. So, let’s listen and learn from our
Great Teacher, Jesus.
Jesus gives us
humbling words, here. How can I, a mere sinful man, ever measure up? Well, I
can’t with my own will or strength. But this teaching isn’t about my emotions
or feelings. This doesn’t mean that to love my neighbor or even my enemy is the
same as liking them. This teaching is to love my enemy and neighbor as I love
myself.
But, do I love myself? I mean, think about it, how do you
love yourself?
I love myself by living fully this life that God gave to
me. So, I likewise am commanded here to love my neighbor, my enemy, so that he
or she may live a rich, full, loved life, as God has given her or him. OK…
fine, but how do I do this?
Well, first off, don’t be or act like the “Herods” of this
world. These “Herods” aren’t interested in giving. No! They are interested in gathering.
Gathering riches and such. They are interested and preoccupied with self, with
multiplying possessions. They seek power at the expense of others. These “Herods”
of this world, take the position of what can I get from my life that helps me.
Gaining material stuff to feed my desire to be important. Yes, these “Herods”
of this world, have fallen in love with themselves!
The only interest of the “Herods” of this world in others,
is to what their neighbor can give to them, to aid their self-esteem. This world’s
“Herods” are kind of like the Dead Sea. Everything feeds into the Dead Sea, yet
nothing comes out of it.
So, let’s “Point to Jesus.” Jesus was not this way. Jesus
sets before us and teaches us a different way.
Success is taking in the abundant life God gives to you and
I and giving that life to your neighbor or enemy. This is the very thing that
Jesus did with His life. This way is more like a river, a beautiful river, that
takes in the rich life of what flows into it and gives that rich life, that
living water to the plains, the fields and the wells in the area.
You see, success for self is a false notion. Rather, real
success, is to gain life and to give that life away. For abundant life, toss
off what the “Herods” of this world tend to hold on to.
Hear and see these words of Jesus, speaking of Himself in
Luke 19
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Jesus didn’t come for Himself. He
came into this world for you and me.
Again, in Matthew 20, Jesus speaks
of this concept…
8 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus, from the beginning of time to
the end of time was spending Himself in order that He may be spent. Jesus gave
Himself, His life, for you and me.
That’s love. That’s how we are
taught to love our neighbor. Give away what God has given us. Give to the “other”
that they may have life and love. Give your life away to God, to neighbor and
to your enemy, so that they may live the life God has given them in abundance.
Yes, give and serve, God and neighbor and enemy.
What a concept, Jesus teaches here.
Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Through Jesus life, death, resurrection
and ascension, we are given New Life. Our sins have been removed. And when we
give our life to God, neighbor and enemy… when we perish and die, here and now,
we will be sown into the ground as a physical body, and raised by Jesus on that
last day a spiritual body.
So, giving your life is a way of
life for the here and now. Taking in those living waters in that river that
flows from the throne of God, brings healing and life and eternity.
Which brings me back to the title of
this reflection, “Crystal Blue Persuasion.”
One of the song writers, Tommy James, took the title from the book of
Revelation, in the Bible, reading about the New Jerusalem. The words jumped out
to him, yet the words are not all together in the song. The words are spread
over three or four verses. Tommy James was inspired by the book of Ezekiel, which
speaks of blue light that’s like the presence of God, and the book of
Revelation, that tells of a future time of mankind living in peace and harmony.
To me? I think of this River of Life. This River of Life that flows from
the throne of God giving life and healing to all the world. And that’s what
message I hear in this passage of scripture. Go to God in prayer and
thanksgiving, day after day. Receive Life. Go to Church and receive that bread
and the wine, in with and under the Body and the Blood of Jesus. Take it in. Receive
the life-giving waters of Baptism, hear the Word Spoken and go out into your
world, here and now, and give it all to God, to neighbor, to enemy. Now, there’s
some “Crystal Blue Persuasion!” Thanks be to God… today… tomorrow… and forever.
How could I not leave you with this YouTube Video of “Crystal Blue
Persuasion.”
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-firearc-lotus&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-lotus&hspart=firearc&p=crystal+blue+persuasion&type=1704805639094716#id=0&vid=e406302606e003022d84af01696fde69&action=view
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