Luke 6:31

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

This chapter hits hard. There are so many things that stand out.

“Do unto others as you would have them do to you” is often called the Golden Rule. This rule is fairly easy to understand. However, it is often illustrated in reverse. For example, “Don’t lie, steal, or cheat because you don’t want people to do those things to you.” This formulation, which I have used with kids, is more akin to the Jewish sage Hillel, who said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow.” (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a) Notice that the focus is on not doing what you don’t like. One could fulfill Hillel’s formulation by doing nothing.

Jesus requires his disciples to actually do something. Figure out how you want to be treated, then go and do that to others. However, before we smile and say, “I like Joe, so I will always be nice or honest or forgiving toward him,” we must recognize that the context of Jesus’ command is dealing with our enemies.

The verses leading to the Golden Rule list all the people we would desire to avoid:

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.” (Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭27‬-‭30‬)

Jesus commands action from us, not passivity or avoidance. That hits hard.

Father, help me to love those whom I perceive as enemies and wrongdoers. Please help me do the hard things for your glory. Amen.

Luke 5:10-11, 27-28

“… And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (11-12)

After this, he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” ‭(27‬-‭28‬).

In this chapter, we see the Lord call Peter, James, John, and Levi [Matthew]. And we see them respond by abandoning everything to follow him.

At that moment, they released their grips on the things of this world and followed. Jesus was assembling a team to turn the world upside down with the news of his coming. In this chapter, we see that he is drawing together people from different backgrounds. These guys are fishermen and a tax collector.

We should not overlook others who encounter the Lord and are changed in ways that cause them to herald the news. For example, we see the leper that Jesus healed. I love that story, particularly as it relates to the team Jesus is building. “And he charged him to tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities” (5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬). Even though Jesus told him to tell no one, the news spread.

We also see the lame man who was brought to Jesus by his friends. To demonstrate his own authority to forgive sins, Jesus told the lame man to “rise, pick up your bed and go home.” At that moment, the formerly lame man became a member of Team Jesus. Notice how he responded to Jesus’ command. “And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.” (‭‭5‬:‭25‬) Not only did he obediently pick up his bed and go, thus physically proclaiming Jesus power, he also glorified Jesus. I imagine that He told everyone he encountered, “Look at what Jesus did!”

In this chapter, we see Jesus assembling a family of followers. Some of them were called to leave everything behind and literally walk with him day by day. Others were touched by Jesus and left in their daily life and environments. Both groups were (and are) useful for the Lord’s purposes.

Father, help me to embrace the place and task you have assigned me. Please help me be faithful in glorifying you wherever I am. Amen.

“And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13).

This verse is so instructive for us. Luke is describing the circumstances after Jesus successfully resisted the devil’s temptation. But we should not overlook the future aspect of this verse.

After failing, the devil departed from Jesus UNTIL an opportune time. Satan didn’t give up; he only retreated until a future time more appropriate for his purposes.

If the devil didn’t give up looking for opportunities to tempt Jesus, why would I think he would give up on his desire to tempt me? Peter warns us about the nature of the devil: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬)

Let’s extend the metaphor. When a lion fails to catch the gazelle, does he a) forever give up, or b) try again? If a gazelle happens to escape the clutches of the lion, should it a) disregard the likelihood of a future attack by the lion, or b) remain on alert for a future attack?

Based on both Luke’s assessment and Peter’s warning, I should consider a successful defense against the enemy’s temptation the BEGINNING of the battle rather than the end. I must not allow pride to lull me into a false sense of security. I must guard my mind and heart and eyes and ears against the wiles of the devil.

Father, please help me take these warnings seriously. Help me to realize how crafty the devil is and how foolish I can be. Amen.

“When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger” (15-16).

[Simeon said, ] “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation” ‭(29‬-‭30).

In these two passages, we see the report of shepherds near Bethlehem and Simeon at the Temple in Jerusalem. Both the shepherds and Simeon demonstrate an admirable desire to see Jesus.

As soon as the angels told them about Jesus’s birth, “they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.” (16) The text doesn’t indicate any prior knowledge about the birth of the messiah or a longing desire to see him. The text only describes their immediate desire to see Jesus based on the angels’ report.

On the other hand, we have Simeon, who was waiting longingly to see the messiah. The description of Simeon gives me the impression that he – even in frustration – had been waiting for the messiah’s appearance for a very long time. I say frustrated, not in a negative sense, but in a way that demonstrates a disappointment that it didn’t happen today. Every day, he hoped to encounter the messiah.

I want to have the spirit of both the shepherds and Simeon. I want to be quickly responsive to the word of the Lord. I also want to look longingly for the Lord’s return. I want to wake up every day hoping that today will be the day!

Father, please help me reorient my heart to be more heavenly-minded. Amen.