Measuring Generosity: Living Out Christ's Love

The blessing of God back to you in this life and in eternity in the Heavenly realm you see uh our lord Jesus desires that you would know his ways and that you would be his light unto the world and that you would make a difference in the midst of the people that are around you in your family in your neighborhood in your community in your church in your workplace in your school that you would be a light for his kingdom to make a difference for eternity and a difference in this life. [00:39:58]

Our lord Jesus in The Great Commission as we noted earlier just before he ascended into heaven desires that all would grow as Disciples of the Lord that they would become one of his disciples that they would receive God's name in holy baptism that they would receive the incredible gifts that were purchased as we just sang in our hymn Lord Of Glory you have bought to us you're the one who paid the price you're the one that purchased us to be your own and and at a very very great price. [00:40:16]

And so the Lord Jesus before he ascended into heaven he gives the marching orders to his disciples and to his church and to you and to me to Go Make Disciples disciples people who follow people who trust people who are under the mercy and forgiveness of Christ and so Jesus says Go Make Disciples of all people parents that means your children that your role in your children's life is first and foremost to help your children to grow as Disciples of Jesus having brought them to the Waters of holy baptism praise God for the gift. [00:41:26]

Jesus says in the Great Commission the Great Commission to make disciples of all Nations baptizing them in the father Son and Holy Spirit and then he says and teach them teach them to observe show them how to live teach them to observe all that I've commanded you do that by modeling it dear parents do that by teaching them well what will you teach them what is the way that Jesus has taught his people. [00:42:39]

The word of the Lord that he taught his disciples that he desires all to know goes far deeper than the simple Ten Commandments and so in this sixth chapter of Luke where he gives us uh some incredible Direction in our reading this morning just before verse 27 we have in Luke the Beatitudes of Luke many people know the Beatitudes of Matthew and Matthew 56 and 7 blessed are those blessed blessed blessed there's many more uh blessed uh notes in Matthew than there are here in Luke but this is the beginning of the Beatitudes of Luke. [00:43:16]

Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the kingdom om of God blessed are you who are hungry now for you shall be satisfied blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn you spurn your name as evil on account of the son of man blessed are you when you stand up for the Lord and his ways and people make fun of you don't let you be a part of their group exclude you blessed are you Jesus says rejoice in that day and leap for Joy for behold your reward is great in heaven. [00:45:43]

Rejoice when bad things come your way on account of being one who stands and shines the Light of Christ and then he speaks woes woe to those who follow the ways of the world who don't stand up for me who don't stand up for for my ways and then he goes and begins to explain how followers of the Lord Jesus his disciples Children of the heavenly father are to live and this way to live is not easy in fact you will see that most people that you know do not do so well in being a follower a disciple of Jesus the way Jesus teaches. [00:46:21]

Here the word of Jesus who desires for you to be taught and to follow his ways a disciple of Jesus doing it his way not the world's way he says but I say to you who hear love your enemies you know though there are people in my life and people in your life who have done things that have hurt us and or hurt ones that we love so much that it's hard to forgive it's hard to love love your enemies the people that have hurt you and hurt others that you love do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you pray for those who abuse you. [00:47:27]

To the one who strikes you on the cheek offer the other also and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either give to everyone who begs from you and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back and as you wish that others would do to you do so to them often spoken of as the Golden Rule and as you wish that others would do to you do so to them Jesus says if you love those who love you what benefit is that to you for even Sinners love those who love them. [00:48:47]

If you do good to those who do good to you what benefit is that to you for even Sinners do the same and if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive what credit is that to you even Sinners lend Sinners to get back the same amount but you my people be different different cause others to say why' they do that he says but you love your enemies and do good and lend expecting nothing in return and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the most high for he he he is kind to The Ungrateful and the evil. [00:49:51]

Be merciful that is don't repay people what they deserve from you that is if they have harmed you they deserve your wrath to be merciful is not to give someone what they deserve be merciful even as your father is merciful and he does not stop here he has more to teach his people judge not and you will not be judged condemn not and you will not be condemned forgive and you will be forgiven give and it will be given to you good measure pressed down shaken together running over will be put into your lap. [00:51:01]

God will bless you beyond your wildest imaginations if not here as one might imagine not in Earthly blessings not necessarily but giving to you the peace that the world cannot give his presence his Aid his his Mercy his forgiveness and the promise the for sure and certain promise that the seed of your body will be buried but it will rise. [00:52:21]