Luke 6:27-28
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Are we really living like this and doing these things, or do we just think it is a good idea?  Are we able to love those who don’t love us back?  Will we do good for those who seek our hurt?  Are we willing to bless those who would curse us?  Are we praying for those who have turned against us?  No matter what, let us always seek to do good.  No matter who, let us always seek to do good.  No matter when, let us always seek to do good.  No matter what it will cost us, no matter how it will affect us, no matter how we feel about it, may doing good be the goal of our lives.

Sometimes we let ourselves off the hook a little bit, convincing ourselves that someone is undeserving, but that is not for us to judge.  The world would tell us to hate, to curse, to despitefully use others.  But Jesus’ way is so different from what the world says and what our flesh is naturally inclined to do.  And filled with His Spirit, we can do as He does.  And Jesus went about doing good.  He loved His enemies to the end, and indeed, we were once His enemies, as well.  He did good for everyone’s sake, not just His chosen few.  He was concerned about those who hated Him, not just those who clamored for His teaching.  He brought blessings to those who would betray Him.  He met needs of those who would desert Him.  He died for those who spat in His face, who beat Him and mocked Him and despised Him.

If we’re only willing to do good to only those who would appreciate it and recognize it for what it is, perhaps we are doing it for the wrong reasons.  If we don’t show love to our enemies, how will they ever know there is a God in heaven who loves them unconditionally?  If we as God’s people refuse to do good, who else is going to?  And if our hearts aren’t burdened enough to pray for the lost people around us, perhaps the love of God doesn’t dwell as richly in our hearts as we had thought.

So let’s spend our time how Jesus spent His—loving others in a demonstrable way, doing good everywhere He went, blessing so many in a multitude of ways, and laboring in prayer for others.  Doesn’t He do these things for us?  And so can’t we then do the same for others?  Let’s look at these things as more than good ideas and actually implement them in our lives.  That way, we can truly make an impact for Jesus on the world around us.