Daily Devotional for Thursday, January 15

Jesus Preached About Attitudes and Commands

“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and I the evil,” Luke 6:35.

At the top of the list of things for which I am most thankful is my family. When my wife and I started out forty-three years ago it was just the two of us, and now we have two adult children and four grandchildren. At a recent Thanksgiving we were blessed to all be together at my son’s home, and I asked everyone to gather for a family photo. Later as I gazed at the photo I was blessed to see the shadow of my wife and myself in the faces of our children and grandchildren. There is nothing like seeing that family resemblance. It is in the blood.

Jesus taught that there are identifying characteristics common to the “children of the Highest.” The “Beatitudes” and actions described in today’s reading are the traits of the born-again family of God, the family resemblance, if you will. When someone chooses to bless those who curse them, this lets you know they have a heart that’s been changed. If someone treats others the way they themselves want to be treated, you see the hand of God at work in their lives. The heart of God’s child is generous, to the point of lending even when the prospects of being repaid appear slim. If they are smitten on the cheek, they turn the other.

It must be very clear that the afore mentioned good attitudes and deeds are a result of salvation, not a payment for it. As the sinner by faith receives the Savior, something wonderful happens, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the heart of the receiver and a new creation is born (2 Corinthians 5:17), one that bears the likeness of the Father. It is in the blood.

PARTING THOUGHT

If you were on trial, accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

John Nations