(Audio)
To you who hear I say, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
In order to love even our enemies we need to listen to Paul, "let the peace of Christ control your hearts". Our compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience will be tested. People will take from us and abuse us and ask much of us without so much as being thankful. Peace does not simply shield us. It controls us and enables and empowers us to act even in duress.
Often we do have much to give. God often asks that which seems difficult and sometimes even impossible from a human perspective.
Give to everyone who asks of you,
and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
It is true that there are priorities we should respect when it comes to giving. Family, friends, and local communities typically take priority. But there is no one who is necessarily excluded. There is no claim on us that we can simply reject out of hand.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
God himself did not restrict his love to the deserving. Rather, he sought out precisely the undeserving and ungrateful. It was in this that he most displayed his compassion and humility. Jesus was able to turn the other cheek and love and forgive his enemies because the peace of his relationship with the Father and the Spirit held him steady and gave him strength. In calling us to love our enemies and to give beyond our limits God is calling us only to something that he first did for us. As he calls us he empowers us to do it. For the gifts we need a precisely the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
The peace of Christ assures us that when we give as we are called we will always have more than enough, even when we seem to be running out or coming up short.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.
God knows what we need. When we seek the Kingdom first he ensures we have it. This is why we can have peace when and to the degree that we offer our needs into the hands of God.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:6-7).
This gift of peace and love frees our lips for praise.
Let everything that has breath
praise the LORD! Alleluia.
"God knows what I need."
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