Putting Words Into Action

Bible Reading: Luke 7

“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 6:35-36)

After saying these words, Jesus put them into action Himself. Jesus did not speak to be known as an excellent teacher, brilliant orator, or charismatic leader. He put His actions into words. He came to love and to make known to man God’s glory that they might know God. 

After Jesus finished preaching, He went to Capernaum and there, there was a centurion with an ill servant. The centurion was a gentile, so he knew that he would be unworthy of healing power from Jesus. Nonetheless, with a poor, hungry and weeping heart (see Luke 6:20-23 again), the centurion put his faith in Christ. Jesus did not turn away this Roman who was the “enemy” of the Jews. Instead, He loved this centurion and showed His love in action by healing His servant. 

Soon later, Jesus went to the small town of Nain. There, there was a widow whose only son had just passed away. Widows were the outcasts of society, and now that this widow’s son was dead, she would have no way of income. She would be helpless, with no hope left. Yet, Jesus took the initiative and gave compassion. Jesus showed His love by raising the widow’s son back to life. Jesus did not only teach others to love. He humbled Himself to love those others would reject. 

Jesus continued His ministry, and when asked by John’s disciples if He was the “one to come”, Jesus only displayed to them the multitudes He had healed of diseases, plagues, evil spirits, and the blind who had received sight. Jesus was not only a man of words. He was a man of deeds, putting His words into action, obeying His Father in all that He did. 

More than that, Jesus went to eat in the Pharisees’ house, after He had rebuked them harshly for their stubborn hearts that refuse to see Him as the Messiah. See Jesus’ compassion to the ungrateful and evil! As they reclined, a sinful woman came weeping before Jesus. The Pharisee scoffed at the woman’s wimpy actions. Yet, Jesus told a parable about a moneylender who cancelled the debts of debtors who could not afford to pay. Jesus was talking about Himself. He came to cancel the debt of sin through His own sacrifice on the cross. Gently, Jesus rebuked the Pharisee and told Him that one should be grateful when they realise that their sins are forgiven. 

Our Jesus who preached, “love your enemies”, loved His indeed. He loved us, sinners who are ungrateful and evil before Him. Yet, He is willing to forgive our sins and teach us to be grateful again. He wants us to be transformed, to know Him, to treasure Him once more. Praise be to God, for His love is immeasurable!

Lord, thank You that You love us. Thank You that You sent Your Son to become a man and ultimately die on the cross for our sins. Lord, help us comprehend Your love so that we may praise You with our mouths and also with our lives by loving others. Teach us to treasure You beyond all things. In Jesus’ name, amen.