Reflecting on Luke 10:10-16
"Whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." (Luke 10:16)In the previous chapter, James and John wanted to send fire.
Since the Samaritans rejected Jesus’s peace, they wanted judgment.
Here Jesus explains how to handle rejection: move on, walk away.
We are servants of love, not judgment.
To wipe the dust is not to judge people.
It is to leave people fully, without taking anything from them.
They have made their choice, and they are free to do so.
In time, they may realize the seriousness of their choice.
And if they persist, they will one day feel the fire.
Sodom represents those who reject God’s goodness and mercy.
Jesus is saying that to reject God’s kingdom does not end well.
Here we need to remember what God’s kingdom is, and what they are rejecting.
The disciples job was to embody and communicate love, joy, peace, patience, etc.
They came with deeds of love and mercy, and this is what was being rejected.
Those how reject love and mercy will experience the sad consequences.
Those who do not embrace God’s grace and character are embracing their opposites.
They are choosing a kingdom of greed, selfishness, cruelty, abuse, violence.
Those who choose this kind of world will one day regret it.
Yesterday I referred to God’s love revealed to Moses, but I omitted one part.
“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)
In my view, the first part represents God’s character.
There are seven ways that God’s love is described, the fullness of God’s love.
BUT, what happens when people reject the fullness of God’s love.
What happens if they choose the opposite – hate, cruelty, revenge, abuse?
To reject God’s character is to reject God, to go against God.
The second part shows what happens when people reject love.
And a life lived in opposition to love will result in misery and death.
The disciples were sent to represent the first part of Exodus 34:6-7.
They were not called to implement the second part.
This part is ultimately in God’s hands, not ours.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
The only fire we are to bring is the hot coals of kindness and mercy.
The implication is that they may eventually be overcome by goodness.
Leave them for a time, allow people to experience their freedom of choice.
In time they may come to experience their need for love and mercy.
Their commitment to evil will waver, and they will be won over with love!
There is great comfort in being loved, and in showing love.
We were made to be loved, and to be loving – it is to be fully human.
I sense the comfort of this love from God for me.
And I alse sense the gentle conviction of my resistance to love.
I want love, but something in me also wants revenge, to get even.
But imagine if God decided to get even, to demand fairness and payback.
Jesus calls us not to live (and die) by the sword, but by the scalpel of grace.
Jesus initated a kingdom revolution, turning the world right-side-up with love.
We extend God’s kingdom by living and loving and leading like Jesus!
If people reject compassion, kindness, mercy, etc., leave them.
Let them choose their selfish paths; they will one day realize the result.
And at that time, they may be overcome and won over by kindness.
God does not immediately reject people who reject Him, His love.
But if they persist in rejecting His love, He will have no choice but to leave them.
For God’s future kingdom will have no room for hate or hurt, for cruelty or abuse.
I thank God that refusal to love will not endure forever.
But for now I want to do whatever I can to burn the flame of love.
The flame of love can melt hardened hearts… it melted mine.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, make me a channel of Your peace. Ignite my heart and life, my words and actions with the flame of love. may Your grace at work in and through me melt the hardness in the hearts of those who are not yet ready to accept love.