Evening

May 3

Luke 6:35-36 ³⁵But 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 sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Jesus tells us that we must be like God. In Matthew it is recorded that we are to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Luke is telling us that Jesus also said to be merciful, just as our Father is merciful. Jesus' reason given in this verse is that our reward will be great. That is here on the earth and especially in heaven. How can you treat others with the generosity that God treats us? That is possible only when you see that God's resources are at your disposal.

Our natural tendency is to withhold, especially from the ungrateful and those who would take from us. Jesus says that we are to be like God is to us. How often we are ungrateful! How often we receive good from Him when we do not deserve it. If God were to use our justifications for not giving, we would have absolutely nothing. Once we realize that the source of all things is God, and that He has commanded us to be as generous as He is, then we can loosen our grip on our possessions and emotions and give like He gives. It is only in reflecting His goodness that people can see the goodness of God and His glory in the earth.

Are you making excuses for withholding love, forgiveness, finances, and assistance to those in need? Then you are falling short of the glory of God and that is sin. You are not passing on the generosity that God is pouring out upon you. So, loosen up your grip. Look at the Father and His generosity, not the sinner and his ingratitude. Be like the Father is toward you, and people will see the glory of God. They may take advantage of you, but that is not your concern. Yes, use wisdom, but don't justify refusing to do good. Sons are to resemble their Father.

Consider: God wants you to be like Him in your realm of influence today.