In December, we spent a signficant amount of time during our Thursday shows in the book of Luke, looking at its unique contributions to the Christmas story and the overall story of Jesus.

I think one of Luke’s most signature moments comes in Chapter 6:

 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.

For some, this might be the great oxymoron of the Bible…in other words, two things combined that should normally counter or cancel out each other.  But this is what’s SO AMAZING about Jesus.  He doesn’t operate by the world’s norms or opinions.

One devotional I read about this passage reminds us that this passage doesn’t mean we let others just roll over us.  What it means is that when we are confronted with an enemy, or a situation where we are damaged, we don’t lash back and allow emotion or anger to control us.  We allow Christ’ s influence to put things in perspective, and respond calmly and rationally.

Oh, and by the way…the DAY AFTER we read this on the air, I had to put it into practice.  I had to decide if what I read was just empty scripture, or truth I should live my life by.

I read an article about an athiest group that was launching a six-figure ad campaign against Christmas…that’s right…an anti-Christmas campaign.  What do you think my first reaction was?  You guessed it…anger.  But then as my Bible sat near my computer, I remembered Luke 6.

And I prayed…for my enemy. 

Not that the ads would somehow all supernaturally be destroyed…but that whatever had driven the hearts of these men and women against God would be driven from them.  That something great would happen to make these folks embrace the Christmas story.  That a Christ-follower would blow away their negative notion about Christians and the Christian faith.

Luke 6 is the oxymoron to obey…and man, sometimes it’s hard.  But Christ commands it!

Happy New Year!

-Joe