Hope in the Midst of Darkness: Daily Inspirations for Difficult Times

FRIDAY, 3 NOVEMBER 2023

TEXT: Luke 6:20-36

20: Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21: Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

22: Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

23: “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24: “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

25: Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

26: Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

27: “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

28: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

29: If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

30: Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

31: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

33: And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

34: And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

35: 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.

36: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: THE BLESSED REFLECT CHRIST’S CHARACTER

Christ wants His disciples to reflect His character to the world He came to save. He also wanted the lessons the disciples learnt from His encounter with the Pharisees to be transmitted to the world. They needed to know how blessed they would be if they followed His instructions (vs. 20, 23).

Jesus didn't hide the truth that He was calling believers into a life of great challenges. There ought to be a difference between the way the world loves and the way the blessed ones love.

Those blessed of the Lord must love their enemies and do good to them, for then you shall be the children of God who is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. But is this possible in today's Nigeria and other part of the world? Yes. But the grace and strength to do it can only come from God.

QUESTION: Do you desire to be among the blessed of the Lord?

PRAYER: Create in me a new heart, Oh Lord, so that I may be among the blessed this day, in Jesus name. Amen.