Reflecting on Luke 6:37-42
"Give, and it will be given to you." (Luke 6:37-38)In the beginning, God initiated the grace of giving.
The whole creation was an amazing gift given to humanity.
God freely gives this abundant blessing, and for a reason.
We were made to to God’s ‘blessed to be a blessing’ family.
We would continue this creation work of generous goodness.
It is in giving that we receive; this is how God made things to work.
God is not stingy, and we were not made to be either.
Our problem is that we have become confused about how to be happy.
Like Adam and Eve, we focus on ourselves, on what we don’t have.
We take for ourselves, and do what is pleasing and good for us.
Our world is the consequence; a world of disparity, inequality and violence.
In order to reverse the curse, we need to reclaim God way of happiness.
Be forgiving, be generous, and we will experience the same.
Our critical, judgmental spirit is related to this confusion.
Instead of ‘naming’ others in good ways, we speak cruelly and selfishly.
We treat others as less than us, and we act as if we know and are better.
In a sense, this judgmental spirit also comes back to us.
If we give our judgment and condemnation, we will receive the same.
If we judge, we will be judged; if we condemn, we will be condemned.
The comfort in these words is the reminder that this is how God is.
God does not judge or condemn; God freely forgives and gives.
God knows about our planks, even if we do not, and does not focus on them.
God wants to help us with our planks, to restore us to His creation goodness.
Though I know some of my sin and weakness, God knows it fully.
And Jesus shows me how God responds: He loves me, welcomes me, and restores me.
I am radically loved and radically graced by God, according to Jesus.
The conviction in these words is how I am not so generous with others.
People frustrate and irritate me by how they think, speak and act.
This is especially true of many people who claim to know and follow Jesus.
And the church collectively is under my scrutiny and judgment.
Jesus is speaking to me about my attitude toward the church and christians.
He knows their planks well enough, and deals generously with each of them.
But His focus for me is my planks; that is my business.
He freely, graciously, generously works with me in my weakness.
I am convicted that I need to give the same grace to others.
That is the calling in these words, to stop giving judgment, to start giving grace.
Assume the best and not the worst, know that others are on a journey, like me.
I once belonged to the sect of the Pharisees (orthodox christianity).
God was patient with me in arrogant, know-it-all self-righteousness.
Jesus is still working graciously in such peoples’ lives.
And He is calling me to join Him in freely giving.
This does not justify sin or let sinners off the hook.
Rather it introduces them to the one who justifies sinners by grace.
And it puts them on the hook of the one who can set them free.
Jesus is calling me to be more generous, in my thoughts, words and actions.
I want to be more generous, in my thoughts, words and actions.
Especially with churches and christians…
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You want me to treat people like You treat me. This is huge, and beyond my capacity. But the more I appreciate your generous graciousness, the more I can aim towards it and show it to others. Freely I have received; help me to freely give!