An October Challenge

For the month of October I'd like you to carefully ponder, meditate on, and utter these words of Jesus, written in red below. Make it a personal confession by adding "I will" to Jesus' statements. For instance, "I will bless those who curse me and pray for those who despitefully use me...," etc. 

Take a few minutes to do that right now, and when you're done, you may have some new revelation about yourself and about our Lord. Write down those things and drop me a line--I'd like to hear what the Holy Spirit is revealing to you.

I can tell you that I find this passage hard to read and even harder to do. But if Jesus said we can do it, we must. But, oh my! My flesh doesn't agree, and when my mind gets involved, I don't want to do what this says to do! Who does?

So today, as you soak in these words and the revelation you get from Holy Spirit, pay attention to your attitude toward other people. Do something incredible for someone who has treated you harshly or unfairly. Don't worry about what the person's response might be; just do it anyway and see what God does. If you obey these instructions, even though it's hard, it will be like planting seeds of blessing. Just see if what you sow comes back to you. It will! God will see to it. 

Are you up for the challenge? Let's do what the Word says to do!  --PL

Luke 6:28-36 (KJV):  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 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.

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. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.