Imitators of Christ

(our theme for October)

Luke 6: 37-38 

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

Well, that’s pretty clear, isn’t it? Give and you will receive. And the more you give the more you will receive.

What Jesus is giving us with this teaching is a life principle. Biblical wisdom. He is telling us this is how life works. Let’s look at a couple of examples.

We begin with something simple. Smiles. Most days I walk the Maryville-Alcoa Greenway. I smile and greet each person as I pass. Some of them are on bikes, some are walking dogs, some are in groups engaged in conversation. In other words, many are distracted. If I smile and speak about 90% of them return the smile and greeting. If I don’t, maybe 30% smile and speak. The more smiles you give the more you get.

Let’s go a step further. The more thanks you give the more you get. When we cultivate the habit of thanking others we create a climate of gratitude. Think of those who serve you daily—cashiers, waitstaff, garbage collectors. When we initiate kindness and thanksgiving, it returns to us. Gratitude is a boomerang.

We must also be aware that this life principle Jesus teaches us is equally powerful when we use it in negative and destructive ways. The more anger you give the more you get. Or criticism. Or prejudice. When we employ this truth negatively, life gets darker.

Francis of Assisi is known the world over for his love of God and all of God’s creatures. His was a life filled with acts of love and compassion and humility. As our closing prayer, pray with me his most famous prayer.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

This devotional was written and recorded by Herb Sadler.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org.

First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.