Tough Nine…

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus offers some of the most difficult teaching in history.  In five short verses, He dispenses nine of the most difficult commands in Scripture, yet He states them with such a matter-of-fact tone that we are forced to deduce that He not only feels them “do-able” but He feels them essential.  Read the nine directives below and ponder on your ability to follow the specific instructions of the Messiah that gave His life for all of us.  (They can be found in Luke 6:27-31)

1)      Love your enemies

2)      Do good to those who hate you

3)      Bless those who curse you

4)      Pray for those who mistreat you

5)      If someone strikes you on the left cheek, turn the other one to him also

6)      If someone takes your jacket, do not stop him from taking your shirt also

7)      Give to everyone who asks you

8)      If someone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back

9)      Do to others as you would have them do to you

Ouch… those kind of hurt, don’t they?  Perhaps a few of us found one or two up there that aren’t all that tough, but on the whole they are blatantly incongruent with human nature.  The natural question that arises after reading this text is, “How can I defeat what comes so instinctively and naturally in my conduct, in order to comply with my Savior?”  Good question.  The answer, I believe, comes in the form of a waving white flag.  I believe the above are almost impossible unless one surrenders completely to the reign and Lordship of Jesus.  We sing the familiar hymn, do we not? “All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give.  I will ever love and trust Him.  In His presence, daily live.  I surrender all.  I surrender all. All to Thee, my Blessed Savior!  I surrender all.”  Hmmm.  When we sing that (or even if we’ve just read it now for the first time) do we mean it?  If we truly give all of our life, possessions, decisions, skills, and time to Jesus, we’ll be in the best possible position to make the above difficult commands come true.  True.  Dear Lord, we desire to live a life that’s true.  Help us completely “sell out” to Your higher ways and purpose…