The Most

May 11, 2021

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. Luke 6:35 NLT

Our world is constantly and continually in search of “the most.” Just last week we had the Oscars in the performance culture, celebrating the most skilled actors and actresses, lauding the most well-written and performed shows, and generally applauding “the most of the most.” We also witnessed the NFL draft (which, by the way, garnered a bigger audience than the Oscars!). This is where young athletes who have given the most they could during high school and college careers are hoping to be chosen as the most likely to help a particular professional team. The Jacksonville Jaguars kicked off the draft in Cleveland by selecting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the number-one pick. That was such a significant honor that whenever Lawrence’s resume is referenced, the fact that he was the number-one draft pick will be mentioned.

In our personal lives we often strive to be the “most” as well. We want to be top in our field, the “most” in whatever we are currently attempting. It seems to be a score-keeping environment in virtually every arena. Often this translates into wins that can’t be justified as true wins in the upside-down kingdom that Jesus leads. For instance, in our world it is the normative for the strongest, the most powerful, and the most apparently successful to carefully calculate their decisions and actions in order to come out on top. They are known for their shrewd deals, their making sure to make a profit, handling things in a scorekeeping “don’t mess with me—I will win” manner.

In the face of that, Jesus says, “LOVE your ENEMIES.” Not treat them as they treat you. Not tolerate them. Not ignore them. Love them. He even spells out specifics of how to treat them. Do good to them. Lend them money without expecting to be repaid. What?? This sounds like weakness. It doesn’t sound like strength, the most power. It sounds like caving to fear or pressure. But this is Jesus, the mighty Savior of the world, and He is saying that such behavior actually identifies us and gives convincing truth that we are children of THE MOST HIGH. God is the most of the most in every area, certainly strength. As Jesus points out, His strength makes Him strong enough to be kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. When we are also kind to those who do nothing to deserve it and even deserve harsh treatment in return, we are the strongest children of the Most High. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

• Jesus, speak to me today when I am trying too hard to be “the most.” Help me recognize that being the kindest, most forgiving, and most humble is what identifies me as a child of the Most High and gains me great rewards in this life and the next.