I started to go through this passage and just pull out certain parts to share with you, but this passage really touched my life. It is full of such words of wisdom that I couldn't bare to not share them all. I did have an especially favorite part- verse 17-23. It talks about realizing when you are blessed. So, read this carefully- over and over again. It is completely wonderful. Nothing like reading for yourself the exact words of Jesus spoken to the people when he walked the face of the earth.
Luke 6
The Message (MSG)
Luke 6
1-2 On a certain Sabbath Jesus was walking through a field
of ripe grain. His disciples were pulling off heads of grain, rubbing them in
their hands to get rid of the chaff, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why
are you doing that, breaking a Sabbath rule?"
3-4But Jesus stood up for them.
"Have you never read what David and those with him did when they were hungry?
How he entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no
one but priests were allowed to eat? He also handed it out to his companions."
5Then he said, "The Son of Man is
no slave to the Sabbath; he's in charge."
6-8On another Sabbath he went to
the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand.
The religion scholars and Pharisees had their eye on Jesus to see if he would
heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He knew what they
were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: "Get up and stand here
before us." He did.
9Then Jesus addressed them, "Let
me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or
doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?"
10-11He looked around, looked each
one in the eye. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out—it was
as good as new! They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how
they might get even with him.
12-16At about that same time he climbed a mountain to pray.
He was there all night in prayer before God. The next day he summoned his
disciples; from them he selected twelve he designated as apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter,
Andrew, his brother,
James,
John,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James, son of Alphaeus,
Simon, called the Zealot,
Judas,
son of James,
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
17-21Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a
plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from
all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon.
They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those
disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much
energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:
You're
blessed when you've lost it all.
God's kingdom is there for the finding.
You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry.
Then you're ready
for the Messianic meal.
You're blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
22-23"Count yourself blessed every
time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or
blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close
for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that
happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don't like it, I do
. . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my
preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.
24But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you'll ever get.
25And it's trouble ahead if you're
satisfied with yourself.
Your self will not satisfy you for
long.
And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games.
There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.
26"There's trouble ahead when you
live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what
indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many
scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true,
not popular.
27-30"To you who are ready for the
truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not
the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of
prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take
it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of
it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the
servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
31-34"Here is a simple rule of
thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab
the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a
pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who
help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only
give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The
stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.
35-36"I tell you, love your
enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret
it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us,
generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you
be kind.
37-38"Don't pick on people, jump
on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same
treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be
easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find
life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing.
Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
39-40He quoted a proverb: "'Can a
blind man guide a blind man?' Wouldn't they both end up in the ditch? An
apprentice doesn't lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow
as your teacher.
41-42"It's easy to see a smudge on
your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have
the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is
distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing
a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly
sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your
neighbor.
43-45"You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor
good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the
tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what
you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and
deeds.
46-47"Why are you so polite with
me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I
tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life,
homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words,
words to build a life on.
48-49"If you work the words into
your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation
of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the
house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my
words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb
carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river
came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss."
