Let’s Skip That One

Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” – Luke 6:32-33 (NRSV) 

Luke’s Gospel can make pew-sitters and preachers alike feel uncomfortable. Like today’s verses, pushing against our human tendency to love the people who love us and hate the people who do not. Or Luke 6:27 about loving our enemies; as a preacher I always made sure to say, “Sure, pray for those who mistreat you, but that doesn’t mean you ought to let them keep doing it.” Love your enemies but keep your distance from danger.  

I meant it, at least the second part. 

Jesus keeps on, saying even sinners love the people who are close to them, who are like them, who take care of them. If you only lend to (or are generous with) people who can repay you in kind, that doesn’t make you a good person.  

And then he says it again, tripping me up, in a verse I skipped when I first chose what to highlight in this devotional: “Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return…for (God) is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked” (Luke 6:35, adapted). 

Do good. Okay. Lend, sure. Ack. I don’t want to wish ill on people. Honestly, though, I do not want to love the ones who might use their power to harm me and mine.  

I want to say, to you and me, “Let’s skip that one.” 

But I can’t, because it just keeps coming back. 

Prayer
O God, show us how to follow you, especially when it feels so uncomfortable. Amen.

About the Author
Martha Spong is a UCC pastor, a clergy coach, and editor of The Words of Her Mouth: Psalms for the Struggle, from The Pilgrim Press.