International Sunday School October 11, 2020
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.
– Lk 6:27-36
This lesson is one of the hardest requirements of the Christian faith. What do we do when someone slights us, persecutes us, or cheats us? How do we treat folks when we have nothing earthly to gain?
It is one of the hardest requirements but it is also the source of the best Christian testimonies. The world doesn’t really take notice when we don’t drink, smoke, or cuss. The world takes notice when we forgive and love with amazing grace. This week I would like to point you to a story that has brought me to tears more than once — the story of the Amish community and their reaction to the school shooting on October 2, 2006. It is testimonies like that one that spreads the Gospel — not winning any debate.
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