If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 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, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Luke 6:32-35
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What grace is there in that?
Three times Jesus asks: what credit is that to you? Luke uses a word that also means grace. Whoever only loves those who love him does nothing special. Sinners do that too, Jesus says drily. Decency is good, but it isn't grace yet.
Then he mentions lending without expecting anything back. Whoever lends to a poor person often never sees the money again. Jesus says: do it anyway. That is how you resemble the Most High, who is kind to the ungrateful. You become recognisable as his child.
Question for today
Where do I get stuck at decency, when Jesus asks for grace?
Prayer
Father, you are good to people who never thank you. Make me more generous than merely decent. Amen.
My prayer
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