The kingdom of our God is upside-down and backward, and everything about it is the opposite of what we see and want to do. For example, in today’s reading, we see Jesus teach His disciples that blessed are the poor, hungry, weeping, hated, and reviled. If we experience those things, do we consider ourselves blessed (Luke 6:20-23)? No! When we see the rich, those who are full, the well-off and carefree, and those held in high regard by all, do we think woe is them? No! Yet Jesus said woe unto them (Luke 6:24–26). We naturally think woe to those whom Jesus blessed, and blessed are those on whom Jesus pronounced woes.
That’s not all! Jesus went further with his teachings and applied them in a personal way. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:35–36, ESV) Jesus says that even sinners love those who love them, do good to those who do good to them, and lend to those who can and do pay them back (Luke 6:32–34). Once again, the kingdom of God is the opposite of our natural assumption. It’s upside-down and backward.
Are we not thankful that the kingdom of God is such? As sinners, did not we need this kind of treatment from Jesus? Was not God merciful to bring us into His family, though we were His enemies, laden down with our inquiry and sin (Romans 5:8–11)? Let us rejoice that God’s kingdom is backward and upside-down, for instead of us being left to die in our sins, Jesus died for our sins so that we might live forever with Him. Yes, Jesus practiced what he taught—He loved His enemies!
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Matthew 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6.