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Feb 10, 2019 | Tony Hunt

Loving Difficult People

The Jesus standard of love.  Luke 6:27-28

  • Love your enemies. (27)
    • Agape- a “genuine concern for someone irrespective of his or her attractiveness or of the likelihood of any reciprocation in kind”BEC
    • When so mistreated by someone, instead of being angered by the unjust treatment you are concerned for them. You consider how you might help what might be the source of such an attitude.  [i.e. My Missouri family]
  • Bless those who curse or mock you. (28a)
    • To bless someone is to bestow in word or action upon someone good things that would benefit that individual.
    • In response to the mistreatment of you, you consider how they might best be benefitted.
  • Pray for those who mistreat you. (28b)
    • Praying for them to be blessed.
    • Pray for them to see the truth of the relationship.
    • Not to pray for their demise. 

The world’s standard of reciprocation.  Luke 6:32-36

  • Love those who will love you back. (32)
    • Is this even love at all as the foundation of it is your personal gain?
    • Love is risk, why would I offer it to one who would likely crush my spirit?
  • Do good to those who will be good back to you. (33)
    • Calculating your good acts based on what kind of return you might have from them.
    • Many of our “service projects” in society have turned into fund raisers subtly teaching you to serve if there is a return.
    • Go get that badge so you can hear an “atta boy!” 
  • Give to others only if there is benefit back to you. (34)
    • Generosity is hardly generous as it is usually tied to personal gain and not for the pure gain of the other.
    • Generosity is announced with big checks or acknowledgements on signs to spread the word on your goodness. 

The barriers to mercy.

“That is rightfully mine.”

“That’s not fair.”

“That lets him/her win.”

 “They need to learn a lesson.”

 “That will teach them.” 

“They must be held accountable.” 

The journey to mercy.

  1. Knowing you are the recipient of great mercy.
  2. Receiving mercy so that you can release mercy.
  3. Letting the fruit (reciprocation) be in God’s hands for you and for those difficult people in your life.

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

Series Information

Life gives us so many unexpected challenges. This series is taking a look at Jesus' life and taking notes for how to live and navigate life as he has best designed!