The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Bless, Not Curse” for Wednesday, 14 January 2015 - Scripture: Luke 6:27-38

The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Bless, Not Curse” for Wednesday, 14 January 2015 - Scripture: Luke 6: Love for Enemies
27 This is what I say to all who will listen to me:
Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. 28 Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, don’t stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don’t try to keep back your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks and don’t ask people to return what they have taken from you. 31 Treat others just as you want to be treated.
32 If you love only someone who loves you, will God praise you for that? Even sinners love people who love them. 33 If you are kind only to someone who is kind to you, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners are kind to people who are kind to them. 34 If you lend money only to someone you think will pay you back, will God be pleased with you for that? Even sinners lend to sinners because they think they will get it all back.
35 But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back.[a] Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel. 36 Have pity on others, just as your Father has pity on you.
Judging Others
37 Jesus said:
Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. 38 If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
[Footnotes:
6.35 without expecting to be paid back: Some manuscripts have “without giving up on anyone.”]
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.[Romans 12:14 (NRSV)]
Sometimes it seems as if every day we encounter a difficult person — whether a co-worker, a neighbor, or a family member. We may try to avoid them, complain about them, or even confront the one who offends us. We may spend a tremendous amount of time allowing our conflict with this person to rob us of our joy and energy.
Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV). In Christ we have peace. When faced with a difficult person we can remember that we are not to “imitate what is evil but what is good” (3 John 1:11, NIV).
As difficult as it may seem, we are to speak blessings on the other person — for God blesses those who bless others. Instead of focusing on someone’s negative attributes, we can find at least one trait that we admire or respect about the person. Maybe they’re a hard worker or a talented musician or a caring grandparent. Instead of gossiping about other people or arguing with them, we can pray for them. We cloud God’s light when we allow anger or insensitivity to control us. Once we start focusing on the positive and turn to God in prayer, God’s love can shine through us.
The Author: Danielle J. Lang (Maryland, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will look for the image of God in everyone I meet.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to speak blessings on those we find difficult to love. Teach us to pray for them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: Co-workers
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