Love Shouldn't Make Sense

The simplicity of the Christian life is too often the very reason why we just don't live it.  We want more complex strategies, morals, and plans of action.  The more complex, the more difficult.  And difficulty makes our excuses more plausible.  We can't be held accountable for such tasks.

But Christ and his commands are overwhelmingly simple.  His preaching is immensely practical and extraordinary humble.  He wanted children to understand.  This simplicity is indicative of the very love that he showed the world - a love that doesn't make any sense at all.  Luke 6 is a perfect example and its contents should strike us as inexcusably simple and inescapably direct.  They bring us immediately to the point of decision.

Do we trust his words?  Do we hope in the future that he speaks of? Will we love like he shows us?

Jesus says very clearly that our love should not make sense to those who do not love him - who do not trust or follow him.  His love and the love that he calls us to is no less than scandalous.  It makes everyone uncomfortable - those who do it, those who watch it, and those who experience it.  It is crazy and other-worldly.

The words of Christ:

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.  Give to everyone who begs from you, and from the one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.  And of you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.  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 6:27-36).

I am going to withhold any comments for the reasons stated above.  They are simple enough.  At some point running to a commentary is like running to another teacher.

I will only say this.  Loving in a way that doesn't make sense may just get us killed (v.22), it may present us with a very uncomfortable life (vv.20-23), and it may mean that we forfeit all that we have always wanted.  But the promise that underlies this entire passage is also very clear.  Loving this way is worth it.  We'd be fools not to risk it all (vv.23b, 35b).