Luke 6:32-33

Luke 6:32-33 - “If you Love those who Love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ Love those who Love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.”

It is easy to Love your friends. These are the people you hit it off with. You form a relationship and start to build trust with them. They Love you and you Love them.

When they need help, you help them. Then when you need help, they help you. You can lend them your things and know that they will return them. There is a mutual trust between you and your friends. These relationships are natural. They are good and everyone needs them in their life.

Jesus, however, also calls us to something different; something greater. Now keep in mind that Jesus never says these kind of relationships are bad or that we shouldn't have them.What Jesus says here is that these relationships are normal and will not set you apart from the crowd.

Loving your friends is something both unbelievers and believers have in common. Jesus says we need to be different. In fact, the bible says that ‘they’ will know we are Christians by our Love. If we Love in the same way as the world, how will they know we are Christians? They won’t. That’s the point.

Jesus calls us to a higher standard of Love. He says, ‘Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you.’ We ought to Love those who don’t Love us, be good to those who are not good to us, and lend to those who will not return. That is the kind of Love that will stand out. That is the Love we are called to have.