“Be Merciful, Just As Your Father

Is Merciful”

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 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. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 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. 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. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:27-37

Have you ever read the contracts of online contracts for software you have downloaded? Don’t do this. Don’t do that.

Instead of a wordy license telling people what they cannot do, and how they should not use the software, what would happen if the software developer offered a simple blessing on using the software for good purposes.

Imagine if terms of service were written as blessings instead of as legal documents.

The agreement Jesus makes with us is like that.

He offers us forgiveness of sin, peace with God, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. In return all He asks is that we do good, forgive as we have been forgiven, and love others as He loves us.

The beauty of Jesus’ agreement with us is that even though we fail to live up to the terms, we still receive the blessing.

As we have opportunity, let us do good to all.

Our Daily Bread – August 29, 2014