Gotta Grudge?

It is still your duty, and it is also your directive. My directive? This time, its Luke chapter six, drawing your attention to verse thirty two. Luke 6:32: "But if you love those who love you, what credit is it to you? (a newer translation reads, “big deal”) For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you (or, “big deal)? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, ‘big deal.’ Even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But you, (verse thirty five) love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. Listen to that again, “Lend, hoping for nothing in return.” Now that’s a word for Bank of America!

No, this is a Word for us, listen (Verse 35), “Lend, hoping for nothing in return,” and here’s why, He says, “and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and the evil.

God is kind to unthankful and evil people. Doesn’t that blow your mind? Doesn’t that blow your mind that right now, today, God is being kind to us here at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale? Giving us the sunshine and giving us a beautiful--He’s happy with and He’s kind to us. He’s also letting the sun shine at Fort Lauderdale beach where there’s probably a beer-drinking heathen cursing His name and listening to ugly, hip-hop music.

You say, “Bob it’s not that nice out in the world anymore.” Let me tell you something, if I was God, I’d make it sunshine right over our church all day. Beautiful day, in fact I’d even adjust the thermostat and form a light breeze out of the East. Then, over the sea and air show, lightening bolts—bam—bam—bam! And I’d even fly my own plane with a banner that reads, “Go to church, heathen dogs!” That’s what I would do. “Now wait, wait, wait,” you go, “Boy am I glad you’re not God, Bob!” Yeah, there are a lot of people very thankful I’m not God.

Here’s the point: God says, “That’s so not me. Here’s what I’d do. I’m nice. I’ll provide air and water and sunshine and sunsets and I’ll provide all of that to the evil and ungrateful people as well to show how nice I am.” I think that’s a powerful thing and here’s why. If there are two types of people that bug me the most, it’s the evil and ungrateful. Do you know what I mean?

Have you ever opened a door for someone and have them walk right through and not say anything? And it’s like, “You’re welcome.” What was that about? Have you ever let another driver into your lane to go ahead of you and they pull right in and they don’t even bother to do a rear view mirror thing like, “Hey thanks?”

I’d like to pull up beside them and say, “Come on! You owe me, man!” “I don’t do nice things for people unless they do nice things for...” Oh no, is that why Jesus died on the cross? I’ll be nice to you if you’re nice to me. No, let me tell you something, He died for the sins of the world, the Bible says.