Luke 6: Part 1 (6)

Pray Psalm 119.81-83.
My soul faints for Your salvation,
But I hope in Your word.
My eyes fail from searching Your word,
Saying, “When will You comfort me?”
For I have become like a wineskin in smoke,
Yet I do not forget Your statutes.

Sing Psalm 119.81-83.
(Ripley: Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
My soul faints for Your salvation – but my hope is in Your Word!
I have searched Your Word with patience seeking comfort from You, Lord.
Like a wineskin, Lord, You test me; I am withered with despair!
Let Your statutes my sweet rest be as I call on You in prayer.

Read Luke 6.1-23; meditate on verses 22, 23.

Preparation
1. What should we expect from this world?

2. How should we respond to this?

Meditation
Jesus never misled people about the cost of following Him. He told us what to expect. Some people will never regard Jesus as Good News. They may employ all kinds of tactics to rid themselves of the thought of Him, and some of those might be unpleasant.

Note well: It’s not a matter of “if” but of “when” (v. 22). When we, like Jesus, are faithful in loving God and our neighbors, and in urging the people we know to repent and believe the Gospel, we will meet with opposition. People may hate us. They may not want us to be part of their lives. They may talk about us behind our back and try to make us out as evil and reprehensible because of our commitment to Jesus (v. 22).

We would prefer this not be the case. But it will be. At least, to the extent that we are faithful in following Jesus and working for the harvest of souls He has prepared. We must never respond in kind, however; that is, we must not hate, revile, gossip, or demean those who treat us thusly. Rather, we must rejoice, even leap for joy! (v. 23)

The bad attitudes and deplorable practices of those who hate us accomplish two things that should cause us joy. First, they are a strong indication that we’re being faithful in our witness. We should rejoice like the apostles did when, as we are living and speaking for Jesus, we take a blow or two for the team (Acts 5.40, 41). Second, we rejoice in the fact that, no matter how severely we are treated, or how violent our foes are in denouncing us, their rage cannot dislodge us from our secure place in the Kingdom of God. Let them rage and threaten; we will look to Jesus, confident in His love, and claim the promises of blessing (cf. Ps. 2).

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets” (Lk. 6.23).

Yes, we must expect this when we sign up to be followers of Christ. But like Christ, we will also be persecuted by people in the church. This is harder to take. As David opined, “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng” (Ps. 55.12-14). A church friend. Ugh.

And our forebears also suffered at the hands of known and unknowns as well. Some were “tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy” (Heb. 11.35-38). The cost of following our Beloved.

The Promise of Blessing.

And part of the blessing is in how we respond to these trials, whether perpetrated by the church or the world.

Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7.12). He wants us to respond in love. Trusting Him to take care of the matter in whatever way He deems best. As David prayed regarding Saul, “Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you” (1 Sam. 24.12).

David’s response to Saul, his enemy, caused Saul to respond to him thusly: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil…Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day” (1 Sam. 24.17, 19).

We may never have enemies who experience an epiphany like that, but that does not negate God’s guidance for us. Yes, when (not if) you are hated, excluded, reviled, and cast out, “Rejoice and leap for joy!” (Lk. 6.23).

Our job is to do the will of God and always have a good conscience about our thoughts and actions, so “that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Pet. 3.16, 17).

Regardless of whatever, we are blessed. And here is why: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Ps. 32.1, 2). Forgiven, loved, and blessed. What could be better?

For reflection
1. You could experience persecution today. How should you prepare for this?

2. What are some things you can do to tap into your Kingdom joy when persecution or trials come?

3. Whom will you encourage today to rejoice in the Lord and give thanks?

Christ knew that there is no class of men more envenomed than hypocrites, and foresaw with what furious madness the enemies of the Gospel would attack his small and despised flock. It was therefore his will to furnish them with a sure defense, that they might not give way, though an immense mass of reproaches were ready to overwhelm them. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Luke 6.22, 23

Pray Psalm 119.84-88.
Pray that the Lord will guard you throughout this day against the enemy of your soul, and He will guide you by His Word into the paths He wants you to follow as His servant.

Sing Psalm 119.84-88.
(Ripley: Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
Lord, how long, what shall my days be? When will You Your judgment toll?
Let my enemies disgraced be, those who persecute my soul.
All the proud dig pits to slay me, and they persecute me strong!
Let Your Word my strength and stay be: Help me, Lord, receive my song!

For my foes would make an end to my existence on the earth.
Yet Your precepts I befriend to know the greatness of their worth.
In Your kindness, Lord revive me! In Your love, restore my soul!
Let Your Word in me alive be; I will keep it well and whole.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.