How to Treat Others

N.T.#522 "How to Treat Others"

April 4, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 12

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

LET IT GLOW

Are you practicing the Golden Rule as it says above? Jesus requires His believers to initiate helpful actions toward others. To sum it up, we are to treat others the way we want them to treat us. It is the standard of kindness toward others. 

 As we show love to our enemies, are we doing good and praying for them? Are we responding with blessing and generosity rather than cursing and retaliation? That is how Jesus told us to react. 

I must admit, praying for them is a lot easier than doing good to my enemies or those who are spiteful toward me. We have to be careful that we don't get the "I don't care" syndrome. I was at that point with a family member. After years of turning the other cheek, putting up with their hurtful comments, and being ugly toward me, I quit showing love. Now I regret it, since they have passed away.

My advice is that we keep showing the love of Jesus, even when it does not seem to matter. They see it.

LET IT GROW

Some call it the grace principle. When we extend grace, the grace of God comes to us in greater quantities, not only to benefit us, but to shower those around us with the goodness of God. (Swindoll)

In verses 32-35, we find why we are to love, do good to, and lend to them which are our enemies. Sinners show love to those who return love, do good to the ones who will return good, and lend to those who will return it. They have their reward. But believer's standards are to surpass that of sinners or unbelievers. 

When we love our enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return, then we will have a great reward. Also, we will be the children of the Highest. God is kind to the unthankful and those who do evil. 

Do we tend to forget these principles as we go about our daily routine?  

LET IT GO

Help us let go of revenge, ignoring those who hurt us, laughing when they hurt, Father.

May we show love and not ignore the unlovely.

May we be found faithful to Your Word and loving like Jesus. 

How Are We Treating Others?

 N.T.#521 "How Are We Treating Others?"

April 3, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 11

LET IT GLOW

We are heading to Kansas City on Tuesday, so I'm writing this ahead of time. We are meeting our daughter, her husband, and one grandson there for dinner. Although the trip is a 4-hour drive, I can endure. Its been 5 months since we visited with our daughter and 9 months since we saw our grandson. It is time for him to decide which college to attend, since he will be finishing up courses at the community college in their state. So it will be a joyful few hours spent with our family. I would leap for joy if I didn't have a chance of falling and breaking my ankle bone again.

I ask myself if that is the kind of joy the scripture is speaking of in verse 23. Rejoice and leap for joy when people hate me, ignore me, and say evil about me? Well, I wouldn't carry it to that extreme, but Jesus said to leap for joy because our reward is great in heaven. (It takes me a while to get over those hurt feelings.) We should do this because Jesus told us. I get it. Yet, I can recall many times when church members snubbed me because they didn't like the stand I took. 

It is good to keep in mind that Luke was a Gentile. He was the only Gentile to write a book of the bible. Maybe that is why he left out some of the Beatitudes, not being a Jew. 

Here is what we have learned so far as to how we are supposed to treat others:

Love your enemies, do good to them, lend to them without expecting repayment, bless them, pray for them, turn the other cheek, give to them, be merciful to them. Whew! That is a lot to take in. 

Verse 30 tells us to Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. (NLT)

Jesus requires His believers to initiate helpful actions toward others. (Falwell)

To be honest, I think I am failing more than obeying these instructions. How about you? Do we have some things to work on in our life and attitude?

LET IT GROW

We pick up in verse 31, And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 

This is known as The Golden Rule. Treat others like you want to be treated. If we want to be treated graciously, generously, compassionately, then we need to do so toward others. It will come back to us in full measure, according to verse 38.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to have different values than the world. Are we distinguishable as such? When we show love to those who do not love us, we are showing them Jesus' love. Is our life reflecting the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father? Is it our desire to be like children of the Highest?

I definitely have some homework to do.

LET IT GO

Let go of hurt feelings, being taken advantage of, snubbed.

Help us act like a child of the King, the Most High God.

May I forgive others as I desire Your forgiveness.

Remind me how to treat others today.

Helping Hand

N.T.#520 "Helping Hand"

April 2, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 10

LET IT GLOW 

1. We are learning how to love the unlovable as Jesus instructed us: 
2. 1. Love your enemies.
3. 2. Do good to them which hate you.
4. 3. Bless them that curse you. 
5. 4.Pray for those who mistreat you.

Now it gets more personal:

1. 5. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. (verse 29) this could be a backhanded slap to a sharp punch. We are not to be the world's punching bag, but to endure an insulting slap, not a brutal blow to the face. figuratively, it is a blow to one's ego. Jesus wanted His disciples to lay aside their pride in deference to non-life-threatening attacks from nonbelievers. (Swindoll)

Words can hurt, cut out your heart and cut you to the bone. Yet, we are to die to self and follow Jesus. We are to be different from the world. Our response may open the eyes of this unbeliever. Take our cares to Jesus, for He cares for us, loves us. His Spirit can be salve in the wound.

How do we respond to others? Sometimes we need to just walk away and not listen to their junk. 

LET IT GROW

          6, If someone demands your cloak (robe, outer garment, coat), offer your coat (shirt, tunic) also. Respond with generosity to greed. We are to be generous to those who are selfish, basically. Keep loosely our grip on possessions, which ultimately belong to God. God can replace whatever we give up. 

However, there comes a time when taking advantage of us should stop, in my opinion. When the person continues to use us and do it on purpose, then we are to stop giving. It is tough love. 

Are we valuing people more than things? 

When someone needs a helping hand, sure we are to help. There comes a time when the needy needs to trust in God our Provider and get a job. 

LET IT GO

Give and forgive. That sums it up. 

1. 
   

How to Treat Our Enemies

N.T.#519 "How to Treat Our Enemies"

April 1, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 9

LET IT GLOW

Blessings and woes are such a contrast between the kingdom of God and this present world order. 

Are you ready for some hard teaching and difficult-to-apply to relationships things to live by? Starting in verse 27, we read some directions from our Savior as an act of the will, which takes a conscious effort for us to do. 

The word good is used 8 times in verses 27-45. It has various Greek meanings as they use various Greek words. I will show the meanings following their usage.

1. Love your enemies. (verse 27) We are to express God's love to our enemies, especially the kind of love modeled by Christ and He commanded in the upper room. Jesus tells His disciples to give this selfless kind of love to the most unlovable people of all-our enemies. Are we being Christlike love in action?

2. Do good to them which hate you.  (verse 27)

    This good means honestly. Hate means to detest (especially to persecute). 

Now, this is especially difficult, yet Jesus want us to show love and honestly love those who hurt us.

Does anyone come to your mind as you read this? Probably we need to be showing them love.

LET IT GROW

3. Bless them that curse you. (verse 28a)  The word bless refers to speak well; thank; praise. Curse means to execrate, which is to declare to be evil or despised. 

As a follower of Jesus we are to respond with blessings and be generous rather than cursing and retaliation. Even when one speaks evil of us or they despise us. These instructions are getting harder to follow, aren't they? Yet, Jesus endured the Pharisees who treated Him like this. 

4. Pray for them that despitefully use you. (verse 28b) Despitefully and use mean the same, threats; to insult; slander. 

Okay, we are to speak well of these mean people who insult us. Consider it all joy? God is in control. So far we are told to love, bless, do good, and pray for those who do not return it to us. In spite of it all, we are to forgive and love. I think that sums these instructions up.

LET IT GO

Jesus loves me, ain't no doubt. 

I haven't been doing this; forgive me Lord Jesus.

Help us love the unlovely.

We pray for those people, Lord, for they need You.

May we do good to them. 

Woe or Blessing

N.T.#518 "Woe or Blessing"

March 31, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 8

LET IT GLOW 

Are you rejoicing today? Jesus gave us 4 scenarios in which we are to be happy in spite of our circumstances. If you missed them, be sure to read the previous posts. Today we are going to read about 4 woes which Jesus gave unto His disciples. 

A woe is a mournful moan uttered in response to personal anguish or prompted by pity for the suffering of another. Persecution places believers in the same heroic category as martyred Old Testament prophets.  (Swindoll)

1. Sorrow awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now. The love of money is the root of all evil. Rich people tend to be self-sufficient and not depend upon God. We should desire to be rich in faith instead of rich in money and material things.
2. What sorrow awaits you who are full/ fat and prosperous now, for a time of awful hunger awaits you. Be hungry for God's Word and spiritual things instead of worldly things.
3. Sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow. What awaits you in eternity-happiness in heaven or anguish in hell?
4. What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds, for their ancestors also praised the false prophets. Don't seek acceptance and admiration of godless people or people of this world order. Seek to please God. (Swindoll)

Are any of those characteristics of our life?

LET IT GROW

We are to lead a quiet, respectable life and allow our good reputation in this world to become a testimony. (Romans 13)

Keep our perspective on God, our morality, our spirituality, and how the world should work based upon the Word of God. That is why we study His Word. May we not water down the Gospel and compromise its message.

LET IT GO

Help us not compromise Your Word, Father.

Keep us strong in the faith, surrendered to You.

Thank You for those who study with me. Please bless them today.

Rejoice in the Bad Days

N.T.#516 "Rejoice in the Bad Days"

March 28, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 7

LET IT GLOW

Jesus told us 4 situations in which We should acknowledge wealth is from God and use it as a steward of God. to be happy-whenever we are poor spiritually and needing God's provision, hunger for Him and His Word, weep over sin of ours and others, and we suffer for living a good Christian life. The promises of gratification are delayed often times. Some may not be rewarded unto we reach heaven. Some people are cut off from the family because of their faith. That is when trusting God becomes real. 

It is very hard when people despise you, hate you, ignore you because of what we stand for in our life. They may get convicted of their sins just being around us who are living by faith. Like the song of years ago said, "Don't worry, be happy." Well, that is easier said than done. 

Jesus told us to Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the life manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (verse 23)

He kinda went to an extreme, don't you think? To receive mistreatment on earth is to wear a badge of honor in God's kingdom. Persecution places believers in the same heroic category as martyred Old Testament prophets. (Swindoll) 

Wow! That is a privilege. We may not be jumping for joy when made fun of as a Christian, but we can have assurance that God sees what is happening to us and will reward us. How are we handling bad days?

LET IT GROW

Not only are there situations for joy, but there are woes for others.

1.  Woe unto you that are rich! For ye have received your consolation. (verse 24) Money is not evil, but the love of money is. (1 Tim. 6:10) It may cause some people to live independently of God and be self-sufficiently. Wealth should be acknowledged as from God, and used as a steward for God. (Falwell)
2. Wow unto you that are full! for you shall hunger. (verse 25a) 

Who is our comforter-God or money? Who fills us with purpose-a job or God? What about our family and friends?

LET IT GO

How is our gratefulness? Are we content with what we have? Is God our provider instead of ourself? 

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing unto our God.

Are You Happy?

N.T.#516 "Are You Happy?"

March 27, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 6

LET IT GLOW

Luke writes about the 4 blessings and 4 curses or the cost and benefits of discipleship. In other words:

1. 1. Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs are the kingdom of God. (verse 20)
2. 2. Happy are those who hunger after spiritual things, for they will be filled. (verse 21a)
3. 3. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. (verse 21b) Tears are seeds that would yield a bumper crop of divine goodness in the future. (Ps. 126:5-6) Those who weep over all that is wrong in the world are more likely to commit themselves to making things right. 
4. 4. 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. (verse 22) 
5. 
   

We are to be happy when we receive hatred, social rejection, verbal reproach, and defamation of character simply by associating with Jesus. We will receive a blessing when we are hated for being a good Christian, living a life of testimony for Christ. Our reward may be later in heaven, but that will be worth it all.

LET IT GROW

Jesus warned against being people-pleasers. We are to be God-pleasers. Stand strong in the Lord. Put on the full armor of God so we can resist the fiery darts of the devil. Sometimes it is church members who sling cutting words at you. Is our shield of faith up so it does not cut our heart out? We just read of the divine favor and kingdom benefits that would come to Jesus' followers. 

Are we realizing we are poor in spiritual things, needing Jesus? Are we hungering after a right relationship with God? Do we weep over our sins and for the sinners? Be strong in faith dear one. God sees all you are going through.

LET IT GO

Let go of foolishness, laziness, untrustworthiness, unfaithfulness. 

Turn to Jesus in repentance.

Fill us with Your love and forgiveness, Jesus.