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

Quotemeal
A daily dose of Christian quotes to inspire and encourage.
Quote by Dr. Alvin Vander Griend:
"Not only does sin hinder prayer; prayer hinders sin. The two are always opposed. The more careless we are about sin, the less we will pray. The more we pray,..."
Spiritual Warfare
A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
'The Powerful Spirit of God is in You'
"But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the..."
Praying with Paul
Features the apostle Paul's writings turned into daily, powerful prayers.
'Godly Gain' (1 Ti. 6:1-10)
"Dear Father, whose truth is gentle, Help us to find a heart to serve you, even in oppressive circumstances. Grant that our religion may not be a..."
God's Holy Fire
A daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
'Must!' (Jn. 4:23-24)
"[Jesus said,] "But the time is coming — indeed it's here now — when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for..."

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!