But love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; for your reward will be great (rich, abundant), and you will be sons of the Most High; because He Himself is kind and gracious and good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Luke 6:35 AMP
The Context and Focus:
This passage is a variation of the sermon of Jesus on the Mountain, where his disciples were gathered around him, and the crowd was at the foot of the mount. As is always the case, Jesus would have us know the practices, principles and priorities of the kingdom he had come to establish. It has to be noted that the kingdom referred to here is not like the earthly kingdoms, with an earthly king whose reign is determined by death, and with no guarantee that the kingdom will remain for another 100 years. History has shown that the Greeks, Romans, the Turks, the Chaldeans and the Egyptians all ruled the world as it was at some point in time, but as we know now, all those kingdoms have given way to others. This proves the point that it is only a kingdom without an end that can set rules of engagement. The one who rules over this kingdom is called the King of kings and the Lord of lords. His authority cannot be questioned, and his reign knows no end, because He is the beginning and the end of all things. All who will be subject to this kingdom must align with the rules. You do have options, but actually, you don't, if you want to be a part of this kingdom.
The Message:
One of the rules of engagement for this kingdom is how its subjects love. If it were an earthly kingdom, it is likely that you would only be told what to do, and no personal example will be given. That is the way of men: plenty of rules, but no grace or help provided to aid conpliance. This is exactly why the law could not make men righteous. Men have mastered the art of hypocrisy and eye-service, telling men what they want to see, but without any personal encounter to share. This is why the world is full of pretenders, who know the words, but lack the power to comply. This is where the kingdom of Jesus is different; he will not demand from his subjects something he has not first done. In fact, for Jesus, the full price for sin was paid long before its beneficiaries would even be born. His heart of love was so rich that, even without a standing guarantee that we would come to Him, he showed us love all the same. This is why he can demand the same standard from all who claim to know and follow Him. His personal example has become the template for all who are his own to follow and show off to the world, and it is the example that gets noticed.
The Conclusion:
If I only love people who had paid it forward, what good does that do? If i only love those who are my immediate family members and close friends, how does God's kind of love become known to the world? How does my light so shine before men that they may see my good works, if nothing unusual happens? If the world cannot see anything to challenge its practices, principles, procedures and processes, how does it sit up and take note of any difference? If I am able to blend in and compromise, there is no message for the world to take note of. The example that the verse above lays out is so relevant today: God is kind to all men, because it is His nature to be so. All of us will receive the rain and the sun, which is proof of His love for all men. However, I must take that extra step of laying down my life for Jesus to take it over, and shine out through me. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, and it will not happen by accident, but by deliberate choice. I choose to love the same way I have been loved. I know I cannot give what I don't have, and if I want it, I have to go to the right source. God waits for us all; how do you respond? God's time of favour is here.
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