Bridget A. Thomas
Every day is a gift!
Luke 6
Read Luke 6 in your Bible. Or you can also read it here.
It was tough for me to pick what to talk about in this chapter because there were a number of passages that I loved.
Verses 27-31 speak about loving your enemies. The words in these verses can be hard to swallow from a human perspective.
And verses 43-45 talk about the fact that we are recognized by our fruit, telling us that “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Ouch. That can be very humbling. In the Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, Dr. Stanley wrote, “Your speech says a lot about you. Is your conversation tainted by complaining and cursing? Or is it characterized by praise for the Lord and sound wisdom? This shows what is stored in your heart, and if it is negative, you should reevaluate what you’ve been focusing on. Set your heart on God because then good, helpful speech will flow from you.”
And this leads to where I intended to go with this post. Another verse from Luke 6 that spoke to me was verse 12: “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
The secret to being able to walk out the things that Jesus mentions in this chapter (loving your enemies and having a heart and mouth overflowing with good things) is our relationship with the Lord. I love how Jesus spent time with God quietly. We see often in the gospels where it says that Jesus withdrew to a quiet place to pray. And the words I shared above from Dr. Stanley agree, as he encouraged us to set our hearts on God.
I do want to point out that the next three verses (13-16) we see that Jesus chose His twelve disciples immediately after this night in prayer. So in this case, He was making a big decision. And we too should turn to the Lord when we are facing a big decision. The Holy Spirit will guide us, if we take the time to listen.
But seeking God should be a daily habit, no matter what we are facing. Spending time in the Bible, praying, and sitting in His presence are vital to our walk and well-being. Then we will have the power of the Holy Spirit flowing inside of us. Then we will be able to follow the words of Jesus. We will be able to love our enemies, we will display good fruit to those around us, and the words of our mouths will be a reflection of a pure heart.
If you are also participating in the Gratitude Challenge, today is day 77 of 100. Don’t forget to record your blessings today!
© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas
Bridget A. Thomas 
Everything is connected to our relationship with God. This is so true. Thank you, Bridget.
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And in a way, this truth is comforting. Because this means if we make God our number one priority, then everything else will fall into place. 😊 Thank you for commenting, David!
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The secret to being able to walk out the things that Jesus mentions in this chapter (loving your enemies and having a heart and mouth overflowing with good things) is our relationship with the Lord – so very true. The more we spend time with the Lord, the better we are able to walk in His ways.
I really like that you pointed out about the disciples after he spent time praying- may we always do the same when it comes to making any decision especially big ones.
You tied this chapter together well. There is a lot in this one and I really like the points that connected through this chapter.
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When I looked in my Bible at this chapter, I had many verses underlined or circled! This chapter is full and rich. And it warms my heart that The Lord has left us with this precious Book to guide us. And it is a much needed reminder that spending time with God should be our main goal, every day. When we do, we have so many rewards to look forward to. Thank you, my friend!
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It’s interesting that Jesus knew the Pharisees were on watch to find something to accuse him of, but he persisted. Perhaps even knowing the final outcome on the cross. I think there is a good lesson for all of us there. No matter the situation be steadfast.
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Such a good point! It can be easy for us to back out or turn the other way, when circumstances get uncomfortable. May we learn to be diligent and stay the course. Thanks for pointing that out! 😊
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Thanks for mentioning that it is important to spend time sitting in his presence. We often pray and read the Bible, but when we take time to sit and listen, God will speak to our hearts.
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So true! I fear that too often God is trying to speak to us, but we don’t take the time to listen. I pray we can tune our hearts to Him! ❣️
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Such a good hearty chapter!! Lots of takeaways and lessons here..Love where Jesus sets the example of prayer before making a big decision and choosing his disciples like you had mentioned, I’ve read this several times but apparently I’m a shallow way so I’ve never thought about it in that way…love this!!
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I agree, there are so many takeaways in this chapter. And what a great reminder about praying before a big decision. I am sorry to say that I sometimes forget to do that. I just worry and fret! But our Shepherd will guide us when we turn to Him! And yes I know what you mean about having read this before but not putting the pieces together. It’s amazing how God always reveals new things to us through His Word! 🙌♥️
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Amen!! ❤️❤️❤️I’m thankful for these comment sections where we can fellowship and relate by sharing our struggles and our victories! Praising Him!!
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I am thankful for it too! It is so enriching all the things we share with one another. It reminds me of Prov 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” ❣️
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In a shallow way*
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I knew what you meant! 😊
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😉
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