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Read: Matthew 5:46-48
Listen: Matthew 5

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:46-47

Jesus challenges his listeners with powerful questions. He calls for behavior that goes beyond the ordinary because even the unrighteous love those who love them back. In Luke’s account, Jesus says to do good to those who hate them, give to all who ask and “do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-31). The crowd likely sat in shock, mouths hanging open. This behavior was unheard of and may have felt unreasonable.

It’s easy to write off the coworker who takes credit for our work, the family member who undermines our parenting or to simply dismiss a spiteful neighbor. We can even ignore small group members who rub us the wrong way. But Jesus calls us to abnormal living that treats people we do not like with his loving kindness. Loving behavior may mean bringing coffee for the coworker or choosing kind words for the hurtful family member. It includes being kind to the neighbor and serving joyfully alongside people who annoy us. These acts may feel like swimming against the current. But we’re called to reflect our Heavenly Father and not contribute to the brokenness of the world. We swim upstream through God’s power. Abnormal living doesn’t mean we condone sinful behavior or dismiss wrongs. Rather, we live out of God’s love regardless of another person’s behavior.

TODAY: Identify the relationships you struggle with the most. Ask God to show you what act of kindness or blessing you could give to those people this week. Ask God to help you take that action.