Be Willing to Listen By Ed McDowell

Will you listen to what He has to say?

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.“

Luke 6:27-28 NLT

From beginning to end, Luke chapter 6 is filled with Jesus showing and sharing with us how to live.  Every step of the way, He is making it clear who He is as the Son of God.

Five Highlights

Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath with these words.

“Then Jesus said to his critics, ‘I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?‘” 

~ Luke 6:9 NLT

Jesus spends the entire night in prayer with God.

“One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. “

 ~Luke 6:12 NLT 

Jesus’ healing is available to everyone. 

“Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone”

~ Luke 6:19 NLT

Jesus teaches about God’s blessings amidst the difficulties of this life.

“Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, ‘God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh‘”

~  Luke 6:20-21 NLT

Jesus teaches about how the fruit of our life is the evidence of the character of who we are.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

~ Luke 6:45 NLT

Reflection

This is the backdrop for these words from Jesus about people living in opposition to us:

• Love your enemies: Who is it that lives in opposition to you?  Is your attitude and posture one of love?
• Do good to those who hate you:  What good might you consider doing for people who hate you?
• Bless those who curse you: When people speak badly, harshly, and crudely about you, can you cultivate a response of blessing towards them?
• Pray for those who hurt you: Who has hurt you?  How have you prayed for them?  How might you pray for them from this point forward?

Encouragement

Two different times in this chapter, Jesus references a willingness to listen and do what He says. He is laying out for us a path of freedom and power only found in surrendering and submitting our ways of thinking and living to the transforming ways of God.  Are you willing to listen?  Are you willing to put into action what Jesus is saying?

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the challenge to listen and apply the ways You have shown me through example and spoken word.  Your ways are different and much better than my ways.  You move me away from continuing hurt and destruction. 

You move me toward life for myself and those around me. 

You help me set down hate and pick up love.  You help me exchange retaliation for blessing.  You give me the will to bless when I would rather hurt people with my words and actions.

Your way of living is beautiful. 

Help me to be willing to listen, follow, and do what You are teaching me.

In Your name, I pray,

Amen

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Ed McDowell is the CEO of Warm Beach Camp. He has extensive experience overseeing and directing ministry organizations, including stewardship development, personnel, and organizational management.

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