Luke : Day 13

Read Luke 6: 12-36

Where are joy and fulfilment found? In wealth and status? In achieving that position or salary you've always wanted? Or being able to afford whatever you want?

That's the way we often think, but Jesus taught something completely different to his disciples (followers). After choosing twelve of his disciples to be apostles*, Jesus told them not to chase after wealth, satisfaction or popularity. Those things will not help us to enter God's kingdom, and Jesus wanted to prepare his followers for what was coming. If they thought that following Jesus would bring an easy life or lots of friends, they were in for a shock!

But by following Jesus, they would be sure of finding a kind of joy and fulfilment that money can't buy - the wholeness that comes from knowing God and the certainty of an eternal future with Him. 

On the other hand, Jesus was saying that when someone rejects His message of repentance and forgiveness because they don’t want to be unpopular or because they prefer to live for wealth or comfort, then they should be warned – they will miss out on the incredible future that God has prepared for His children. More of that later!

In the Kingdom of God, things seem back-to-front. The things we value are often not what God values. Jesus gave another example: We should love our enemies! Why? The answer is in verses 35-36 – it’s because God shows love to those who those who care nothing for Him. In fact, the Bible teaches that Jesus came to reveal God to us and to die for our sins while we were still acting as enemies of God. God’s values may seem back-to-front to us… but if God rejected every person who has rejected Him, none of us would have any hope of experiencing His Kingdom.

"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful."

Luke 6:36