NIV 365 / Countercultural Lifestyle

The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan

Day 222 of 365 Countercultural Lifestyle Scripture points to an intimate connection between compassion and forgiveness. According to Jesus, a distinctive sign of Abba's children is the willingness to forgive our enemies: "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35). In the Lord's Prayer we acknowledge the primary characteristic of Abba's children when we pray, Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" [Matthew 6:12]. Jesus presents his Abba as the model for our forgiveness: the king in Matthew 18 who forgives a fantastic sum, an unpayable debt, the God who forgives without limit (the meaning of seventy times seven). God calls his children to a countercultural lifestyle of forgiveness in a world that demands an eye for an eye - and worse. But if loving God is the first commandment and loving our neighbor proves our love for God, and if it is easy to love those who love us, then loving our enemies must be the filial badge that identifies Abba's children. Taken from NIV Ragamuffin Bible Luke 6:27-36 Luke 6:27-36 KJV 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.