Questions for Reflection - "What God's Love Can Do"
Luke 6:27–36
- What do you associate with the meaning of Valentine's Day?
- Read the passage. Does this seem to fit your understanding of Valentine's Day? Why or why not? (Look up "History of Valentine's Day" on Wikipedia.)
- What does Jesus mean by "love"? Who does he mean by "enemy"?
- In vv. 27-31 Jesus shows us God's love is not defined by those who hate us. In vv. 32-36 he teaches us how God's love is not defined by those who already love us. How is God's love defined?
- Talk about this summary of "How to love enemies":
- First, control your tongue. Speak well in private and in public. Don't be a rumor spreader. Instead,
- Second, seek Godly advisors you can trust to keep a confidence who will hold you lovingly accountable and support you in finding ways to love the enemy.
- Third, re-humanize that person who is your enemy. Enemies tend to become two dimensional, flattened out caricatures we label. Instead...
- Fourth, pray for them. See that person as God sees him or her, just the way God sees you.
- Fifth, do well. Find concrete ways to make room and conditions for reconciliation. Build trust. This takes time.
- Sixth, recognize your own limits. Monitor your own emotional capacity to engage someone who hates you. Go when you "feel" strong enough. Have your advisors help you decide when.
- Seventh, expect no results. You cannot control outcomes. You also do not do this so that you can make this world a better place. We love enemies simply because we are commanded to do so and because we are God's children.
- Think of an enemy you will love.
Our loving God, Anything we even begin to understand about loving enemies we learn from you. You began with us. When we forget this we become arrogant. Forgive us again Lord. Meet us in this hour, even in this moment of silence as we lift up what we need to say and do before you, in the name of Jesus.
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Westminster Presbyterian Church |