July 22, 2006

Going the Distance

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Matthew 5:38-42 – Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

At some point in our lives, we have all heard ‘an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ When I was a child, I heard people say, ‘if someone hits you, hit them back.’ As children of God and citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus provided ‘guidelines’ for our behavior and actions (as illustrated in the scripture above). Though it may seem His ways are foreign, it is the world’s ways that are foreign to believers of Christ (Ephesians 2:18-22; Hebrews 11:1-13; 1 Peter 2:9-12).

Matthew 5:38-42 has often been a tough statement for many Christians to handle. We may all want to be treated fairly and with respect, but this doesn’t always happen. It’ll be important for us to live beyond the thought of being ‘slaves’ or ‘giving in’ (pride issues).

The lives we lived in the world must be removed from us (mentally, physically, and emotionally). We must submit our mind, will, and emotions to God, committing all we do to Him (1 Corinthians 10:31; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-24).

As we commit our lives and works to God (Proverbs 16:3) and understand our place in our home, job, and community, we can be greater servants and bearers of light (Matthew 5:14-16). Though the pain of the ‘experience’ may not change, we can take comfort in knowing that God is with us and will reward us and others in due time (Hebrews 11:60.

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