Upside Down Kingdom

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that." Luke 6:32-33

Much of life is spent loving those that love us back. We are humans, and if we give out then it is only natural to expect back in some way. We find comfort in being liked and loved by those that are similar to us in thought, values, social-economic stature, and spirituality. It's much easier and predictable to give to those who can give back, or to do good works in some way to be thanked in return. You see where I am going with this don't you?

Jesus himself said if you love those who love you back what credit is that to you? What does he mean what benefit is that to us? What is Jesus really trying to get at here? Because in the natural he knows that we like to be loved by those who love us in return. I don't think He is saying not to love your family, your close friends, etc. I really don't believe that is His point. I like this quote by Dr. Ralph Wilson on these verses.

"If you are looking for a nice, comfortable religion that doesn't call for too many demands on your life, makes you feel better when you're down, and will reserve luxury suites for you in heaven when you die, then you probably shouldn't try to be one of Jesus' disciples. He is demanding. He has the crazy notion that his followers should serve others rather than themselves. He expects them to show integrity when no one is looking. And he expects them to love. Not just people who only occasionally have a bad day. But enemies. Jesus expects you to love your enemies. Don't follow him unless you're ready to experience some discomfort."

The kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom. Meaning if you want to be first then you need to be last. If you want to gain your life then you must lose your life. Jesus is radical and his ways are radical. Really we are to rejoice when we are persecuted? Why? Jesus is not after earthly rewards. He is not after a pat on the back. He is after the hidden, dangerous truth. It is extreme to love your enemies. It is extreme to give to whomever asks something of you without expecting in return. Precisely. This is why Jesus came. He laid down his life to those who couldn't give anything back to him. Wow. So let's lose our American entitlement Christianity and become like Jesus and count the cost of carrying our cross.