Acting As Children
Imitating the Father’s compassion
SCRIPTURE:
Luke 6:35-36 NLT - "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."
OBSERVATION:
Recently, a friend sent me a picture of a young child who looks confused. The caption read:
“I hate it when people say, 'Act like an adult.’ Have you seen adults lately? That’s horrible advice.”
Unfortunately, this is a very sad reality.
Looking at the world around us today, it often feels like everyone is acting like children. Where are the adults? Many only look out for themselves, with little concern for others. Civil discussion, disagreement, or debate frequently ends with people acting childishly.
Yet, as strange as it may seem, Jesus would agree: “Act like children—children of the Most High God.” The question is, what kind of child are we acting like today?
In Luke 6, Jesus delivered His teaching from the mountain, which we call the Sermon on the Mount. Here, He outlined the attitudes of God’s children—how they should look, speak, and act.
One of the most challenging parts of His teaching is the command to love our enemies. Jesus had already explained the importance of loving those who love us—but that is the easy part. He reminded us:
Luke 6:32-34 NLT - "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return."
It's natural to love those who love us and to hate our enemies. But Jesus asks us to go further and higher: to love our enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting anything in return.
APPLICATION:
Love your enemies! Do good to them! As children of the King of Kings, we are called to imitate what our Savior did for us: love with no strings attached. Love is what attracted us to Christ. Paul clearly states in Romans 2:4:
“Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
Luke 6:35-36 NLT - "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."
OBSERVATION:
Recently, a friend sent me a picture of a young child who looks confused. The caption read:
“I hate it when people say, 'Act like an adult.’ Have you seen adults lately? That’s horrible advice.”
Unfortunately, this is a very sad reality.
Looking at the world around us today, it often feels like everyone is acting like children. Where are the adults? Many only look out for themselves, with little concern for others. Civil discussion, disagreement, or debate frequently ends with people acting childishly.
Yet, as strange as it may seem, Jesus would agree: “Act like children—children of the Most High God.” The question is, what kind of child are we acting like today?
In Luke 6, Jesus delivered His teaching from the mountain, which we call the Sermon on the Mount. Here, He outlined the attitudes of God’s children—how they should look, speak, and act.
One of the most challenging parts of His teaching is the command to love our enemies. Jesus had already explained the importance of loving those who love us—but that is the easy part. He reminded us:
Luke 6:32-34 NLT - "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return."
It's natural to love those who love us and to hate our enemies. But Jesus asks us to go further and higher: to love our enemies, do good to them, and lend without expecting anything in return.
APPLICATION:
Love your enemies! Do good to them! As children of the King of Kings, we are called to imitate what our Savior did for us: love with no strings attached. Love is what attracted us to Christ. Paul clearly states in Romans 2:4:
“Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
We are made sons by regeneration, through faith in the Son; but we are called to make our calling and election sure — to approve and vindicate our right to that sacred name. We can only do this by showing in word and act that the divine life and principles animate us. – F.B. Meyer.
Read that again – “We can only do this by showing in word and act that the divine life and principles animate us.”
What animates us? What compels us? The love of Christ—who loved us first, even while we were still sinners—must be our answer.
Lend to them without expecting to be repaid – Jesus also linked love to lending. Although it might seem unusual at first, it demonstrates the same principle. Money often has a strong influence on us. Just as we hesitate to lend money without expecting something in return, we may hesitate to love unless it feels worth the “risk.” But Jesus reminds us that true love has no strings attached—otherwise, it isn't real love.
He closes this teaching with a powerful reminder:
Luke 6:35-36 NLT - "…You will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
This changes everything! God loved us—wicked, unkind, undeserving, ungodly, wretched sinners—and showed us compassion. As His children, we are called to do the same, even toward our enemies.
Do we treat our enemies, the wicked, and ungodly sinners, the same way? If not, we need to follow what Jesus taught and modeled, and act like children of the Most High God.
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me to love as You have loved me—with no strings attached. May I freely give love without worrying about the outcome or the return on investment? May I be more concerned with acting like a true child of the Most High God than with whether my love is reciprocated or if my enemies change. You are the one who draws the lost; my role is to love them as You have loved me.
What animates us? What compels us? The love of Christ—who loved us first, even while we were still sinners—must be our answer.
Lend to them without expecting to be repaid – Jesus also linked love to lending. Although it might seem unusual at first, it demonstrates the same principle. Money often has a strong influence on us. Just as we hesitate to lend money without expecting something in return, we may hesitate to love unless it feels worth the “risk.” But Jesus reminds us that true love has no strings attached—otherwise, it isn't real love.
He closes this teaching with a powerful reminder:
Luke 6:35-36 NLT - "…You will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
This changes everything! God loved us—wicked, unkind, undeserving, ungodly, wretched sinners—and showed us compassion. As His children, we are called to do the same, even toward our enemies.
Do we treat our enemies, the wicked, and ungodly sinners, the same way? If not, we need to follow what Jesus taught and modeled, and act like children of the Most High God.
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me to love as You have loved me—with no strings attached. May I freely give love without worrying about the outcome or the return on investment? May I be more concerned with acting like a true child of the Most High God than with whether my love is reciprocated or if my enemies change. You are the one who draws the lost; my role is to love them as You have loved me.
Children of God love without strings attached.
Posted in 03 - Luke
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