Morning Devotional 090825 Just Do It

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

September 8, 2025

Luke 6:35-38

35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return. If you do, you will have a great reward. You will be acting the way children of the Most High act, for he is kind to ungrateful and wicked people. 36 Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. 37 “Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good portion—packed down, firmly shaken, and overflowing—will fall into your lap. The portion you give will determine the portion you receive in return.”

Good Morning! Forgive, and you will be forgiven!

35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return.

Jesus repeats these words in a variety of iterations throughout his ministry, yet we still struggle to do them. 

It is easy to love those who love you in return, but with those who do not return the love or offer hate in response to your love, we do not do well. We often either ignore or shun them, or we have a desire to respond in kind. Even if we don’t act on our desire, it is within us, and God knows our every thought and the motivations of our hearts.

Most of us try our best to do good, so let’s skip to lending, expecting nothing in return. This is so contrary to what we are taught in our earthly value system. We learn early in life that if we borrow money from the bank, we must repay it with interest. After all, this is how businesses work. If a business fails to earn a profit, then it fails and closes its doors.  

Here’s the difference: we are not in the business of accumulating earthly treasures, such as earning a profit from which we can make more money through wise investments. Christ has paid our bill in full, so we can move into the next level of living life. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit begins the work of transforming us into the beings God created, untainted by earthly standards of give and take. 

We are in the business of gathering heavenly treasures. Yes, we can increase them infinitely by each good act, but everything we do is in response to the abundant grace that God gives each of us. We do good, not because it is required, but because we can’t help ourselves. That is how the transformation works: we see a need, and we are immediately called to serve. 

Love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return.

To borrow an advertising slogan, Just Do It.

Loving Lord, you bless us abundantly! We read the words and nod our heads in agreement. Help us embrace the actions that must follow. Thank you. We love you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen

Thought for the day: It is a blessing both to give and to receive.

Love one another, Do Good, Share all you have! Pastor Liz