Luke Part 1 Week 26

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 6:29-31 

²⁹ “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. ³⁰ Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. ³¹ Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” 

The disciples of Jesus were instructed by Him to do things that only those with divine love could do. The unbeliever could never do what Jesus suggested. Those who are right with God can show His qualities through their lives. This is the way the “golden rule” of verse 31 can be practiced. An unbeliever wants to get even; the Christ-follower wants to share the love of God. 

REFLECT 

How are you doing with these instructions of Jesus? Do you let His love show through your life to others? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about some verses that relate to showing the love of Christ through your life. Read Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:31-32; 1 John 4:7-12. Discuss these verses with your friend. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 6:32-34 

³² “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! ³³ And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! ³⁴ 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.” 

Jesus contrasted unbelievers with believers. Notice the emphasis is on what people do, not on what they say. Some people talk as if they are right with God but their lives do not show it. They do not demonstrate that they have the love of God in them. The lives of those who are right with God should be seen as significantly different from those who are not right with Him.  

REFLECT 

As others watch your life, does your conduct match what you say? 

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 7:15-17 to see what Jesus said about observing the lives of others. Visit with a friend about how both of you would measure up to this inspection. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 6:35-36 

³⁵ “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. ³⁶ You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” 

Jesus again repeated for His disciples to, “Love your enemies!” Jesus wanted them to act as “children of the Most High.” God is loving and kind to the wicked. Those who love Jesus should love as He loves. They should “be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” 

REFLECT 

Think of these commands from the Lord Jesus. Would your friends think you are obeying them? 

RESPOND 

Meet with a friend and discuss each of these commands in Luke 6:35-36. Comment to each other how these have been seen, or not seen, in your life this past week. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 6:37 

³⁷ “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” 

These verses pose a significant problem. Believers are to judge, or evaluate, the differences between right and wrong. Local church groups are to practice discipline if the actions of a person are bringing disrepute on the local fellowship and on the Lord Jesus. What the believers should never judge, however, are the motives of a person. Only God knows the heart. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been guilty of judging another person’s motives? God does not want you to do that. Consider the actions, but not the motive.  

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 to see what the apostle Paul said about judging motives. Then see 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 to see what he wrote about the church in Corinth needing to take action regarding a person calling himself a believer but not acting like it. Discuss these differences with a friend. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 6:38 

³⁸ “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” 

Jesus cited a common principle: whatever one sows, he will reap. This is true of both good deeds and bad deeds. Here the emphasis is on good actions of being generous. One should not give with the motive being that he or she might receive; the giving should be from a generous heart because the believer has experienced God’s generosity. Some will be spiritually rich even though economically poor. 

REFLECT 

What has your experience been like? Have you been spiritually blessed by helping others materially? In what ways have you experienced God’s goodness? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend to read and discuss Galatians 6:7-10. Share with each other how you have experienced what this passage says.