OUR DAILY BREAD : THE LIFE WE'D LIKE TO SEE

[cimi]

July 13
Saturday

THE LIFE WE'D
LIKE TO SEE

READ:
Luke 6:27-36
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Just as you want men
to do to you, you also
do to them likewise.
__Luke 6:31
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The annual Texas Book Festival in Austin draws thousands of people who enjoy browsing for books, attending discussions led by acclaimed authors, and gleaning advice from professional writers. At one such festival, an author of young adult fiction told aspiring writers, "Write the book that you want to find on a shelf." That's a powerful recommendation for writing and for living. What if we decided to live the way we want everyone else to live?

In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus urged His followers to pursue a lifestyle that demonstrates God's mercy to all "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you" (vv.27-28). He also said that generosity and a lack of retaliation should characterize our reaction to unreasonable treatment (vv.29-30). Jesus concluded, "Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise" (v.31).

Impossible? Yes, if we rely on our own strength and resolve. The strength comes from the Spirit. And the resolve comes from remembering how God has treated us: "He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful" (vv.35-36). That's a life we all long to see. __david McCasland

````````````````````````All the way my Savior leads me__`````````````````````
``````````````````````````What have I to ask beside?`````````````````````````
````````````````````````Can I doubt His tender mercy,````````````````````````
````````````````Who through life has been my Guide? __Crosby`````````````````
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Christianity is not just Christ in you.
but Christ living His life through you.

****************************today's Bible Reading __ Luke 6:27-6**************************

27 But I say to you who
hear: Love your enemies,
do good to those who hate
you, 28 bless those who
curse you, and pray for
those who spitefully use
you. 29 To him who strikes
you on the one cheek, offer
the other also. And from
him who takes away your
cloak, do not withhold your
tunic either. 30 Give to
everyone who asks of you.
And from him who takes
away your goods do not ask
them back. 31 And just as
you want men to do to you,
you also do to them
likewise.

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. 34 And if you lend
to those from whom you
hope to recieve 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.

36 Therefore be merciful,
just as your Father also is
merciful.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A number of Christian groups have cited today's passage as grounds
for a life of pacifism; that is, never using physical force, regardless
of the circumstances. Others, however, believe that evil must be
restrained and may involve the righteous use of force (cf. Rom.
13). An important application of the passage to our everyday
relationships is for the believer to avoid haughtiness and not to seek
revenge when offended.

[Dora]

Thank you Cimi! God bless you sis.