I love road trips! The journey is fun. The radio is playing our favorite songs.  We look forward to our destination that has been planned for months.  We can’t wait to get there to see and do all those things we dreamed of enjoying.  Then we see the signs.  They are large and in charge with their bold, black lettering with a florescent orange background.  We abhor them.  They unnerve us.  Our joy is robbed the minute we see them for we know what might happen because of past experiences with these signs that say, “Construction ahead.” 

We know there will be a either a slowdown, detour, or a possible closing of the road we planned to take.  We groan and even get angry when our control is lost and we must do what more signs say that line the road we chose to go.  “Slow down” “Stay in the right lane” “Do not pass” “Detour ahead” “Follow the detour.”  All are warnings to get us safely to our destination.  But, this is not the way we planned!

If we go our own way in unfamiliar territory there will be more trouble ahead if…

Luke 6, The Message

Give Away Your Life

²⁴ But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you’ll ever get.

²⁵ And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself.
Your self will not satisfy you for long.

And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.
There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it.

²⁶ “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

^27-30 “To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more payback. Live generously.

^31-34 “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

^35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

^37-38 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

^39-40 He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.

^41-42 “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus posts all the warning signs on our journey of life.  Imagine the same bold, black lettering on a bright orange background that says, “TROUBLE AHEAD.” When we go our own way in life, expect detours that will lead to know where as we cling to our “know-it-all” attitudes.

Jesus knows our human tendencies, emotions, and feelings, that drive our fallen behaviors.  So, Jesus schools us with higher thinking along with examples of Kingdom responses to life that are opposite to how we would naturally respond without thinking of the consequences.  Construction instruction:  Read this passage as many times as needed until our behaviors begin to match who we say we believe!

Jesus teaches us to love like God loves us—unconditionally and relentlessly—no matter what people do or say!  We learn from Jesus that there is nothing God won’t forgive in us; so to be like Him, we must forgive like He does.

Jesus defines the generosity of God.  “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”  Jesus is our standard for generosity and was our perfect example of giving His life for ours.

CONSTRUCTION AHEAD!

We are a work in progress!  In fact, just like our highways, we are continually in construction.  When we think we have it one part under God’s control, then God’s Holy Spirit shows us another area that needs work.  Paul shares his (and ours) state of continual work in him as encouragement to us:

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

There is a completion date—when Jesus comes back!  God only knows that date and time.  So, journey with Jesus!  He is the Way, Truth, and Life that leads us home.

Lord,

You have reminded me that I am a work under continual construction.  You have encouraged me to know that failures are lessons to be learned.  I’m leaving what I know that generally leads to trouble to lean on your wisdom, insight and understanding.  I trust in You, the Master of masterpieces, as you continue your daily work on me. You are God.  I am not.  Do what you must so I will be all you created me to be.

In Jesus Name, Amen