Love-based Justice

 

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…”

—Luke 6:27b

For most of my life I’ve been a “beat ’em with a big stick of justice” kind of guy.

Recently, I’ve begun to realize that my view of justice does not mesh at all with the view of justice that Jesus expressed in Luke 6:27-36:

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

“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. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

“And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

“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.

“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.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

When we read Jesus’ words carefully and determine, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to be obedient to this teaching of our Savior and Lord, our lives will change dramatically—for the better.

 

Originally posted on Thursday, January 8, 2015

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