SATURDAY March 7, 2020

Go the Second Mile

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, taught His disciples good, Christian attitudes. According to the law, the rule to live by was “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Yet through the grace of God, the law was totally changed. Christians should not retaliate; they are to be giving and forgiving.

Jesus taught His disciples and other people listening to go out of their way to help someone, even if that person was unreasonable or had evil intentions. To be Spirit-controlled is sometimes very hard, especially when someone is defaming and mocking us or pushing our buttons; it is easy to want to retaliate, but we are to turn the other cheek. When Jesus spoke about turning the cheek––it was an insult. When a person chooses not to retaliate, this does not mean that person is weak; it means they have the character of Christ–¬–meekness––power under God’s control.

The Romans who occupied Israel could tap a Jewish citizen on the shoulder and demand that they carry their pack for a mile. In response Jesus said, “Go with him two miles;” that way they could share Christ with them. These are the attitudes Christ wants you to live by, and these actions testify that you are indeed a disciple of Christ.

…the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. 'The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared' (Luther).
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!