Luke 6:17-49
‘Perfect wife’ was the label button attached to the Valentine card I presented to my wife this year. She worn it around the house, but was reluctant to show the outside world my impression of her.
‘I’m the prefect husband’ declared the Birthday card she gave to me several years ago. Like her, I was shy to let others know what she thought of me, so I attached to my lamp in my personal study to remind me of her estimation of me.
Perfect wife and perfect husband buttons seem to be a good backdrop, as we read what Luke called ‘the Sermon on the Plains’ and Matthew ‘the Sermon on the Mount’.
In Luke’s version Jesus lays out for us what He expects of His ‘perfect’ followers.
Jesus reaches to ‘perfection’ when He tells His followers. ‘Be you perfect as your God is perfect’.
For Jesus ‘perfection’ means……
v Being happy when people hate you, reject you, insult you and say that you are evil because you follow God’s ways. Be glad .. you will receive a great reward in heaven.
v Love your enemies.
v Do good to those who hate you.
v Bless those who curse you.
v Pray for those who mistreat you.
v Do not judge others.
v Forgive others.
v Do not condemn others.
v Give to others.
There are more directives in Jesus’ ‘Sermon on the Plains’ written in Luke’s Gospel, but the above list is enough to consider if we want to be God’s ‘perfect people’.
As I read the above and apply it to my own life, I give thanks that my God is a God of love, God of mercy, God of forgiveness and God of hope. It keeps me striving to be the ‘perfect God person’.
Question – Comparing the list to your own life, where are you on the road to perfection?
Tomorrow's reading: Luke 7:1-17
(Today's post submitted by guest writer Rev. Hollis Hiscock.)
posted by Allison Lynn @ 8:16 AM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
HI: Yesterday - become's, to-day...Tell me, it's not possible, but that is 'reality', an imperfect circle, to an 'perfect heart', an strange analogy.
As, I wander thru these questions raised, it raising in my mind, [1/3 of my nature-you say]. But it's now like an short excursion, on this lenten-journey, unfolding, with some ellipsis path I'm on. I don't ask for much, I don't pretend much, but it seem's to help here, rolling-over each day, to another discovery
At present, tho I can ill-afford, an bit of the, "Day After", an Valentine 'U' say, OK!
That connection, whom? I have appointed you*, that man is you, that could be anyone, anywhere, anytime, even me, you say. In an natural way?
An link, can crack, or frame another way, an accident I'd say. For even best Hero's, come on the media and claim, in descent of good work's, promises made, and simply forget. It come's near an tag-team, sport's play...between the natural man, another say is it, 'supernatural man', in an constant fray.
Promises are made, promises are broken, to the point...or end..and now so easily, they say, " he mis-remembered", it isn't so this formidable day". No secondary question, do we need sport's hero's, for Iam one, that man as well, all along.
Perfect card, perfect life, perfect hero, sport or other, it is so fleeting, our 'promise's, now mis-rembered', no-problem.
Well, for me their is; for we so easily forget the 'real world', we touch daily, and reported so. We, forget to turn away...and look to God's promises, for they are 'alway's kept', where many Hero's go astray.
An small, 'forgotten' card, may be appear a small thing to-day, to-morrow, broken promise's, mispent-duties, moral mis-judgement, now unethical practice....I can't remember. Justification...mis-rembered.
How can that be so? Well, I for one join that 'illustrious sport's group', not all just in vogue. For in an way, I forgot an, 'Valentine's Card', and not able to easily get out, made one from the 'front page' of the daily new's paper, full of 'red roses', ithung on the 'fridge' for awhile, heard no comment's. So, I presume, it was an failure, more hurtful, than good, like, 'where is that hero-now', just faded away.
But, in better manner, kindness, and Love, did so receive, and it tag's, by the window, still. Two heart's, say 'I', and Max, inside with an comment, 'I' really appreciate, what your doing, trying well---to keep Max alive, and well! There, you go, I was getting so 'close to the scene', my commune's with God, over important matter's...forgetting what? This.
Like the, my sport's, Hero mentioned, trying not to pre-judge other media stories. For, I walk the same mis-pent path mentioned here, maybe Anne was heard to say, to her sister there, maybe Keith...'just---mis-remembered. And we will let it go, until an little later date...when he has his act, better-together.
I'm not sure I heard word's, my echo, I'm sorry...but I'll 'pin' those thought's, rather word's, to my deflated 'chest', for awhile. Maybe, my 'sport's hero', might consider the same thing. If, not, 'we run the risk, of further rejection.
So, God actually ask's, "How are you doing to-day". I'd have to not answer, and maybe, just maybe....I'd never have the opportunity, for an 'spiritual encounter again'. If so, pity, pity, pity, for we make is so.
Maybe, to-morrow between 'Luke', and he--presenting God's word...will have something for me...to better still my [5lb's of arrythmic heart muscle, for to-day I appear even, arriviste. If, not but for the 'Goodness', of other's, another. And not my justification, friend's in high places, but simple Hope.
Blessing's. + k
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