anglican devotional
The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 23 July 2023 – Follow Christ’s Way Of Life
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TOPIC: Follow Christ’s Way Of Life
READ: Luke 6:27-38 (NKJV)
” But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
“bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
“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.
“Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask [them] back.
“And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
“And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
“And if you lend [to those] from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
“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.
“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
” Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
THE MESSAGE:
Today’s text presents to us the lifestyle Christ expects from His followers; He gave these instructions to His disciples as He taught them what the new life in Him demanded. To an average Jew, these laws of Jesus seemed at variance with the Mosaic injunctions handed over to them pertaining to the treatment of perceived enemies. The laws of Moses justified ‘eye for eye’, ‘tooth for tooth’ (Exodus 21:24-25) implying: ‘Do unto others what they do to you.’ This would then help curb bad behaviour. Unfortunately, it failed to work this way.
Beloved, Jesus Christ expects you to follow a lifestyle that will always help you overcome the evil vengeful and weak tendencies in you. He wants you to go a step further and deeper than the Law of Moses. He wants to take you to a plane higher than the natural. This may be difficult for our Adamic nature but with the help of the Holy Spirit, it is achievable. You are encouraged to love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who hate you, do good to those who mean evil for you or even attack you and always forgive. The more you yield to the Holy Spirit, the easier it becomes to follow Christ’s pattern of life.
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