Are You Living as God�s People?

Posted : 15 Mar, 2014 06:59 AM

Are you Living as God�s People?



Let's examine our conduct as God�s people.



Background Scripture: Luke 6:12-49





Luke 6:12, 13, 17-31 (KJV)

12. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

13. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles;

............

Luke 6:17-31

17. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

18. And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

19. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

20. And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

21. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed be ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

22. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man�s sake.

23. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

24. But woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation.

25. Woe unto you, that are full! For ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! For ye shall mourn and weep.

26. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

30. Give to every man that asketh of thee: and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.





One of the most famous blocks of teaching in history is Jesus� Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7.



Jesus� sermon contains two lists-the first a list of blessings, and the second a list of woes (Luke 6:20-26).



But WHY?



Too often wealth and social success are achieved by exploiting others. Obviously, God�s favor had nothing to do with it.



Our God Jesus pronounced �woe� or condemnation on those who were materially �rich� (v. 24), though spiritually impoverished.



Those who were presently satiated with food, while being unrighteous in their ways, would one day experience hunger (v. 25). At the moment, evildoers preoccupied themselves with laughter, but in a future day, they would be filled with sorrow. Right now, the lost reveled in obtaining praise from the crowd, but a time was coming when they would experience God�s censure (then they will �mourn and weep�). Jesus said �woe� to you when �all men� speak well of you, and to remember that such acclaim also was heaped on the false prophets in Israel's history (compare Jeremiah 14:13; Micah 2:11). We should not think that Jesus is condemning anyone who is popular with the public merely because of that fact. Jesus, himself has received a favorable report by many (see Luke 4:14, 15). What Jesus denounces, rather, is the person who compromises truth for the sake of popularity (as did the false prophets). Those who proclaim God's truths without compromise are more likely to be shunned than accepted in the public arena. The false prophets were welcomed, because they said what the people wanted to hear (see Jeremiah 5:31).



What were the four imperative commands that Jesus taught His followers? (Luke 6:27, 28)

Jesus now moves from four blessings and four woes to four COMMANDS to those desiring to be His disciples:

(1) LOVE, (2) DO GOOD, (3) BLESS, (4) and PRAY FOR.



We easily love those who love us, but our enemies? We do good things for our loved ones, but for those who hate us? We bless our friends in many ways, but those who curse us?



Slapping can be an act of violence, but in Jesus' world it is an insult. When we are insulted for our allegiance to Jesus, we should not retaliate in kind. Within the context of verse 29, Jesus was indicating that His followers were not to seek restitution (see Isa. 50:6). When someone steals our cloak (outer garment), the robber should also be allowed to have our coat (inner garment). We are to exhibit generous behavior, always ready to give to others without expecting repayment.



The command to do unto others (including abusers or enemies) as you would have them do unto you (v. 31), shows an act of love to be displayed to others far BEYOND the ordinary display of love.



As followers of our God Jesus we need not only to understand the consequences of blessings and woes, but also live as God�s people.



This is what true Christian love does-it is BEYOND all the bitterness and hatred in the world! It also sweeps aside all the barriers that separate people and makes enemies to be our brothers. That is why Christians can extend the love of God to others (Luke 6:27-31).



PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we are thankful that You do not treat us as we deserve as sinners. Help us act toward others in the gracious way You treat us. In Jesus� name, amen.



THOUGHT TO REMEMBER

Make love your first response because OUR God is LOVE. This is His nature/essence and this is His COMMAND to love people. :hearts:

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