Scripture for this week’s mid-week devotional comes from the New Testament the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew 5:43-48.
Hear the word of God.
“43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (NRSV)
This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
This passage from the Gospel of Matthew is a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes. Within the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches God’s will for all people.
Picture yourself there within the crowd gathered to hear Jesus’ speak. You have traveled a long distance to find out more about this man who teaches compassion and kindness and love. Upon hearing Jesus’ words, you find yourself feeling uncomfortable and mumbling to yourself how could Jesus expect you to love everyone including those who have done you harm.
As humans our natural response to harm is to retaliate.
Our female dog, Sammie, can be a handful and has a tendency to be bossy to our male dog, Duke. Rarely will Duke respond to her bossiness with a growl or a bark. He simply lifts his head higher and ignores her. He appears to be unfazed by her aggression. Sammie’s immediate response is to stop and walk away.
Each time I see that interaction between our 4-legged companions I am reminded of Jesus’ words within the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. We are called to love all people.
If we only acknowledge and love those within our family and our friends, we are not living in the way Jesus teaches us to love our enemies. If we choose to live our lives that way then we are Christians in name only for our words and actions are not any different from those who have not heard of Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
Within these words from Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus is not advocating that someone who is abused to tolerate it. We are called to consider the words and actions of 2 individuals in the 20th century who opposed evil with truth and non-violence. Mahatma Ghandi was born in 1869 and jailed in India 10 times. In 1948 he was assassinated. Each year on October 2 the International Day of Non-Violence is observed in memory of Ghandi’s birthday. Martin Luther King was born in 1929 and was arrested over 29 times for his stance against racism through nonviolence. In 1968 he too was assassinated. Each year in the US the third Monday in January is a holiday in memory of Martin Luther King’s birthday on January 15.
We are called to remember that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45b).
We are called to remember that we were each created in God’s image and have been sent out into the world to share God’s love and grace to all people.
Let us pray.
Lord, we confess that there are times when we find it so difficult to love those who are hateful to ourselves and to others through their words and actions. May our hearts and minds be open to the voice of the Holy Spirit within us always encouraging us to be disciples known as people who are compassionate and forgiving. In your holy and precious name, we pray. AMEN.
Scripture for this week’s mid-week devotional comes from the New Testament the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew 6:19-21.
Hear the word of God.
“19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (NRSV)
This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.
In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount encompasses three chapters; chapter 5 through chapter 7. Throughout these 3 chapters Jesus teaches God’s will for all people.
In today’s passage from chapter 6 Jesus talks to the people about what is the true treasure in life.
I grew up on a farm in south west Minnesota with 6 siblings. We didn’t receive an allowance for completing our assigned daily chores. The chores were assigned with the expectation that they would be completed within the time set by our parents. When my father would come home with a pickup load of feed from town, he would give me a coin for shoveling the load off from the truck into the feed bin inside the barn. I can still remember watching him dig in his pocket for a coin and placing that shiny treasure into my hand.
The desire to amass “treasure” becomes like a drug for some. For as they accumulate treasure, they discover it is never enough. There is always a need to somehow, some way, obtain more and so they live on credit; always owing someone else for the treasures they have.
The treasures Jesus spoke about are not gold, silver, computers, homes, or cars.
The treasures Jesus spoke about are words and actions of kindness and compassion for those in need within the world we live. These types of treasures have no monetary value. Their value lies within the relationships that are created between one person and another. These treasures have the ability to grow and multiply beyond any stock market values. They have the ability to instill within one’s soul true joy and happiness that cannot be purchased with money or a credit card.
Instead of buying a new watch to place on one’s arm that tells one’s heartbeat, the time in China, and tomorrow’s weather one could donate to a local food pantry. Instead of going out for lunch and shopping one could help a neighbor mow their lawn. Instead of watching a movie on the internet one could volunteer to read to a resident at the local nursing home.
Jesus modeled through his words and actions what it means to “store up treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). Jesus sought ways to help those around him by healing the sick, the lame, the blind, and the possessed. He showed us how important it is to spend time with people, to build relationships with them all the while never determining if they were worthy before he served them.
We are reminded that all that one has is a gift from God, given out of God’s love to be used to share with the world around us that is in need.
Jesus said if we “store up treasures on earth [they will be] consumed by moths and rust and thieves will break in and steal it” (Matthew 6:19).
Today and in the days ahead may you look around you with new eyes seeking ways to serve others through your words and actions. May your heart and soul be transformed by this new way of living focused not on material possessions but on a deeper relationship with God seeking God’s direction for your daily journey of faith…
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.