Luke 6:27-38
27 "But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
34 If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit (is) that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
35 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.
36 Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.
37 "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
38 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."
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There was a time when I was nearly protestant in my thinking, and very much caught up in the faith vs. works debate. Really, that whole discussion is an enormous waste of time that moves our focus away from where Christ wants it. In Luke 6, we see very clearly that Christ clearly calls us to a faith in action. Let's break it down:
Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Give to everyone. Don't expect things back. Do to others as you'd have them to unto you. Be merciful. Stop judging. Stop condemning. Forgive. Give.
If I want to live a life in the spirit, these are the things I should be doing.
