Exchange - Part 2

To recap - God has been training me lately with the verse:

Luke 6: 27, 28 (NRSV)

But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Last week, I discussed how this verse outlines a progressive plan for living out forgiveness and counter-culture living with others. I outlined the first two directives and discussed some practical ways to live them out. This verse is God’s call to be confident and victorious, free in our living and example with others. And based on an awesome point from a friend…this may be a three part series. This week I will try and tackle the last two directives.

1. For those who curse you – bless them in a verbal, tangible way. 
2. For those who have abused/mistreated you – pray for them.

Here are some thoughts I have regarding the breakdown of this verse:

1. If someone curses you, that is an action. It’s usually in their words. They fling harsh words toward you to condemn you, your thoughts and your spirit. You usually know when someone curses you, but not always.
2. If someone abuses you and mistreats you, it can be in all areas toward you – physical, emotional, cognitive (thoughts) and it always affects your spirit.

Some ways to live this verse out every day:

1. Speak well about and toward those who curse you. Throughout the Bible a “curse” is a verbal assault toward a persons’ future or present condition. (i.e. Genesis 3:14, NIV, Genesis 12:3, NIV, Romans 12:14, NIV). Consider sending them a note of encouragement. When speaking about them to others, speak kindly and lovingly. When you meet them, or are with them, speak to them with words of affirmation, encouragement and constructiveness. When this is hard for me, I pray for God to let me see this person through His eyes and give me the words to bless them – or to just be silent…if you know me, then you know that me being silent can be a blessing (if not a miracle) sometimes too.
2. Pray for those who abuse you and mistreat you. Reconciliation is not always possible or appropriate with people who have abused you. There is no reason to stay around those people who abuse you and allow them to hurt you further. This command is to give us safety (and for those who need it, perhaps permission to leave) from abusers and redemption from our hurt. Our prayers can also supply potential redemption for our abusers. Forgiveness is a tricky thing…we think our bitterness and hate is holding our abusers captive and condemning them, but really, our unforgiveness is poisoning us, holding us captive and keeping us prisoners to the past, to the abusers and to the pain that they caused. When we can lay down the pain, hurt and memories of the past to God – which takes a moment by moment and continual surrendering to God for His will and blessing in our life and the life of our abusers – we are released and transformed to live a free life. A free life takes time to get used to and sometimes we need to learn new lessons (over and over) on how to keep living free. (Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. – in reference to Deuteronomy 32:35).

This verse ends with praying because it takes prayer, the Holy Spirit interceding on our behalf and giving us His power to do this work of loving when we don’t feel it, serving when we are hated, blessing when we are cursed and allowing God to unbind us and speak God’s best (praying to Him) for those who abuse us.

This outward work of tangible love is not more than God expected of himself and actually did for us. Jesus was mistreated on our behalf. He was innocent yet treated like a guilty person. His body was repeatedly abused to atone for our sins. Jesus provided salvation, died for our punishment against others and Himself and in His resurrection, gave us opportunity to take hold of His good in exchange for the evil we have done against Him and others. This also includes the evil that has been done to us. 

Luke 6: 35, 36, (NIV) 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.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.)

Matthew 5:46-48 (NLT) If you love those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.