so here is that theme again love love again then love some more when Jesus came to earth the people
were used to a religion that was less about God himself and more about the many laws a person
had to keep in order to consider themselves in good standing with God sounds pretty familiar
doesn't it there's nothing new Under the Sun and 2,000 years later we're still guilty of turning
the ways of Jesus into an exhaustive list of rules Jesus came and Jesus reigns and he sets
a new order his law is simply this love God love others and the rest will follow so today let's
meditate reflect and pray on love from Luke chapter 6 verses 35 and 36 but first will you
join me in a time of opening prayer dear Jesus you are the very symbol of sacrificial love you
hung out with sinners the outcast and the corrupt in order to give them a better life a better way
let me see others not as enemies but as people in need of a saving transforming faith and it's
in your name I pray amen so take a deep breath here and wherever you are just take a moment to
relax now exhale and find a moment of stillness and calm so that you can focus on the Lord who
loves you slowly start to close your eyes and spin this moment posturing before the Lord in prayer
as you find that place of stillness is there anything that is fencing off your
heart or hardening your heart towards today's time of reflection confess that to him now
Jesus walked the earth 2,000 years ago but he was and is and still reigns in heaven he knows
your name and he cares that you live a life full through him as I read today's verse ask
him to give you one word or phrase or thought or image that you can take with you throughout your
day listen carefully as I read from Luke chapter 6 verses 35 and 36 love your enemies do good to them
lend to them without expecting to be repaid then your reward from heaven will be very great and
you will truly be acting as children of the Most High for he is kind to those who are unthankful
and wicked you must be compassionate just as your father is compassionate what did you see what did
you hear take a moment to reflect on that idea and let your reflection be your prayer to God
is it hard to love the people who hate you it is for me love is not a natural reaction
to hate but instead of spreading more hate in retaliation the way of Jesus is to plant love
so how can you show love to the people in your life today ponder that in prayer
with eyes still closed in your body postured relaxed over God listen again as I read from
Luke chapter six verses thirty five and thirty but love your enemies and be kind and do good
doing favors so that someone derives benefit from them and lend expecting and hoping for
nothing in return but considering nothing as lost and despairing of no one and then your recompense
your reward will be great rich strong intense and abundant and you will be sons of the Most
High for he is kind and charitable and good to the ungrateful and the selfish and the wicked so
be merciful be sympathetic tender responsive and compassionate even as your father is all of these
what did you hear this time did anything new stand out to you let this reflection be your prayer
so back to that theme idea a theme is an idea that is repeated over and over again
so that it becomes the main point in this passage is just one example as one of the
most central themes through the Bible love so how are you doing are you living like love is
the absolute point take a moment and remember Jesus's command to love God love others and the
rest will follow how does that look in your life and let this time of pondering be your prayer
and there is the second thing we keep hearing even as your father is so we should love and show mercy
and we should love and show mercy because he is love and mercy so test your heart again when was
the last time you showed mercy to someone the last time you were responsive and compassionate
and forgiving of someone is there anyone you need to show mercy to today ponder that you
listen one and final time as I read and you reflect on Luke chapter 6 verses 35 and 36
love your enemies do good to them lend to them without expecting to be repaid then your reward
from heaven will be very great and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High for he is
kind to those who are unbanked and wicked so you must be compassionate just as your
father is compassionate who is it that makes your heart bitter and color who is it that you
just don't like for whatever reason maybe it's justified maybe not that's not the point take
a moment and think of that person or group or people and have this time be your prayer to God
now let's do something that's really unnatural pray for them first pray
for your own heart that God would flood you with compassion towards them and do that now
now next pray for that person or group of people to be blessed today pray that
they would experience the goodness of God in some way today and do that now
finally pray that they would see God not in fiery judgment but in beautiful glory imagine
that person encountering the fullness of God's love and grace and light today pray that now
I'll join me in closing prayer from Luke chapter 6 Lord God of love and mercy help me to love and
unselfishly seek the best and higher good of everyone even my enemies give me the strength
to do good and lend expecting nothing in return for my reward will be great rich in abundant in
heaven let me do all of this because you yourself are kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful
and to the wicked just like me let me to be merciful responsive compassionate and tender to
everyone because you are all of these things and more and it's in the name of Jesus I do pray amen
now begin to come out of that stillness of Prayer move around a little but before you go commit to
showing kindness to someone in your life who is difficult to love today what will you do will you
find a way to serve them or write a kind note will you show them hospitality or defend them
in some way so whatever you do think of it right now and commit to doing that thing before you go
to sleep join us again tomorrow for more guided meditation prayer and reflection here at a bye
you