Luke 6 Devotional

Mercy Learned from the Father

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”Luke 6:36 (BSB)

Before choosing the twelve apostles, Jesus spends the whole night in prayer (6:12-13). Then he comes down to a level place, where power goes out from him to heal the crowds (6:17-19). His first words to his disciples pronounce blessing on the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the hated, and woe on those who are comfortable now (6:20-26). The kingdom overturns what the world counts as success.

What he asks next sounds impossible: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, lend without expecting anything back (6:27-35). But notice the reason he gives. God himself shows kindness to people who are thankless and wicked, and his children are to reflect that same mercy (6:35-36). These commands are not a ladder up to God. They describe his mercy taking root in people who have received it, and all of us have been on the thankless side of his kindness. Because he has been merciful to you, you can begin with one person you would rather not forgive or bless.

To think about: Who is one person you find hard to love right now, and what would it look like to show them the kind of mercy God has shown you?