What Jesus Did! 'Beyond Our Circle of Friends' — Luke 6:32

Saturday, April 8, 2023

[Jesus continued his teaching on our interactions with others:] "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!"
— Luke 6:32 NLT

Key Thought

Jesus has just given us the golden rule in the previous verse. [1] Now he wants to make clear that the golden rule is not just a commandment to obey with people we like and people who treat us nicely. It is a commandment to follow with all people, even our enemies! [2] Just as God loves all people, he calls on us, his children, to do the same. [3]

[1] Luke 6:31.
[2] Luke 6:27-28.
[3] 1 John 4:7-8; John 3:16.

Today's Prayer

Holy and righteous Father, the true and living God of all nations, mold my heart by your Holy Spirit and fashion it into a vessel that is filled with your love for all peoples. Break down the walls of prejudice, pride, bitterness, arrogance, malice, and ethnocentrism that can produce unholy barriers to your love operating through me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

3 Related Resources by Heartlight

It's About Seeing Us!
Article by Rubel Shelly
Do you see and listen to these folks around you? Rubel uses a street person named Jack and his friend to remind us that each of these people have a name and need to be valued and noticed as real people.
No Strings Attached
Article by Mike Barres
Will we help others in the same way that Jesus did? Will we help those who need it simply because we follow Jesus and because they need it with no strings attached?
Love Is Not a Brick
Article by Rubel Shelly
Who would go first among the religions in showing honor to the other? Rubel Shelly talks about world religions, love, respect, honor, and violence.

Illustration

Illustration of Luke 6:32 NLT — [Jesus continued his teaching on our interactions with others:] "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!"

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Saturday, April 8, 2023

Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'Guiding You to Eternity' (Ps. 73:23-24)
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory."
Passion for Praise
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
'The Whole World' (Is. 42:12)
"Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'God Opened the Door for Breaking Down Barriers!'
"So [Peter and Cornelius] talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for..."
Today's Verse
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
Psalm 90:2, 4
"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. . . . For a thousand years in your...."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

More What Jesus Did!