Luke 6:36-38
"Imitate God"
The question, which is asked of our lesson for this morning is why? Why be good? What is the advantage? What is the motivation for being good?
Modern people have all sorts of ideas about acceptable
morality, about what it means to be good. What does it mean to be
"good"? What is good to some is what "everyone accepts to be
considered decent, respectable, and noble."
For others that which is deemed as good is what
consenting parties agree. Still, good is what makes you feel wholesome.
Are there any absolute moral ethics for this world
today? Our Gospel text points to the source and standard of
ethical conduct for the Christian today…"even
as your Father is merciful." Because the LORD is loving,
good, and merciful, His people are to reflect HIS nature.
The popular phrase says: "Like father like son". Jesus
obediently followed the will and command of the Father. We should do the same.
In this season of Epiphany, we are called to imitate God. Jesus shows us how.
How do we imitate God?
1. Be
merciful as God is merciful - v.36”Be merciful as your Father also is merciful."
A. "Lord
have mercy upon us; Christ have mercy upon us; Lord had mercy upon us";
thus the church prays. We cry for mercy. For pity and compassion. And
Jesus responds in kind.
To be merciful is part
of the Father’s nature.
Notice what
David says in Psalm 145:8,”The Lord
is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The
Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works."
B. As the Father has had mercy on us, we respond
in kind. We extend mercy and compassion to others. This of ourselves we
cannot do. Our old sinful self, he constantly quibbles and snivels, grumbles and
fights. We need a new master; a new man to daily come forth and arise to live
before God in righteousness and holiness.
This can only happen when we die to self by drowning and killing the old man from within. That happened at baptism. Daily we need to renew our baptism through repentance. Recall the process, which takes place.
The question is asked;
"I now ask you before God; is this
your sincere confession; that you heartily repent of your sins; believe on
Jesus Christ and by the assistance of God, the Holy Ghost henceforth to amend
your sinful life then declare so by saying 'yes'".
We go through this
process every time we remember our baptism.
We do this in five
specific ways each beginning with the letter "R".
a. we take responsibility -owning
up to our sin
b. we feel genuine remorse -
we feel lousy about our sin.
c. we take steps to repair –that
which we have broken
d. we repeat not!
e. Finally we find redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Forgive
as God forgives -v. 37 "forgive
and you shall be forgiven."
A. St Paul tells us: “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself not counting our
trespasses and sins.” That’s what it means to forgive – That the
LORD will not hold your sins against you!
The message we need to
hear is that in Jesus Christ all sin is forgiven – period! “There is therefore now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus.” “None no one can lay any charge against God’s elect.”
B. So what do we do? We forgive. This is what we pray for when we pray in the petition “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!” We must forgive! Notice the Savior’s words; “for if you do not forgive your brother neither will your heavenly Father forgive you!”
3. Give
as God gives - v.38 "Give
and it shall be given unto you: in good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same
measure that you measure shall be measured to you again."
A. We cannot
out give God! Consider the blessings! Consider His mercy and grace. All things
spiritual and temporal come from the hand of the Savior.
B. We give
as a response to His blessings. That’s how we respond with grateful and
thankful hearts in response to His mercy and grace.
“For with the
same measure that you measure shall be measured to you again.” As the Lord
has so blessed and sustained you so you respond. We can only do as the Father
does. God bless you as you imitate Him in your life.
Words-792
Passive Sentences –6%
Readability – 78.6%
Reading Level –4.8
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