Your self will not satisfy you for long

For me a part of preparing for the Easter season has meant reread the Gospels. I am currently reading through Luke from the Message version. As I read this passage I thought of all my friends and family that do not know or see how Jesus could be their Messiah. It's so easy for me to see how miracles it was that the God of the universe would step down from his glorious throne and come here to suffer for his children. It's probably because I see how it is not a story of laws and rules but of love. God's unending and unfathomable love! Christ's dedication to seeing us come to know how compassionate and graceful the Father truly is. And the only way that we could enter into a right relationship with the most Holy God. O and just to top it off it once Jesus ascended he was able to send the Spirit. Now that's icing on the cake!

Anyways, heres a passage that stood out to me today. Please read it with an open mind and ear to whatever the Holy Spirit would desire you to walk away challenged with.

Luke 6:24-38
But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you'll ever get.
And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself.
Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games.
There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.


There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular. To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that. I tell you, love your enemies.

Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

My prayer for you is that today you would not turn away but turn towards the only one that can truly love you and give you what you are looking for in this life.

Brandy Kimes