March 10th

March 10th  

Ok so let’s talk a little more about being winsome. Well let’s start by talking about how we can get the world’s attention, or at least those in our immediate vicinity. If you read the gospels and pay attention to what Jesus taught his disciples, you will notice that everything He instructed them to do or how to behave was against the current. Well I guess even the gospel message is against the current. Salvation by grace through faith, giving up His life for us even though we can’t repay Him…yeah pretty much against the current. But beyond that look at some of the things He taught in the gospels. Let’s look at Matthew first.

Matthew 5:38-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor i and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Ok, before you freak out about the last sentence there about being perfect, remember when you look at that word in the original language it implies to be all that you were created to be. The word perfect in this verse is the Greek word telos. In this case telos implies: “moving toward the end with a deep sense of purpose.” It does not mean absolute, divine perfection. This command that Jesus makes is a command to move toward the purpose for which we were created.

Ok now on to the rest of the stuff. Look at all of the directives given before that verse. If someone slaps you on one cheek offer them the other one. If they want your shirt also give them your coat. If they force you to go one mile, go two. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. Definitely against the current, and likely against the grain for most of us.

I never understood -if they force you to go one mile go two -until The Chosen came out. They did a scene that made it completely clear and real. Rome occupied Israel at that time and Roman soldiers could force Jewish citizens to carry their stuff, tools, bags, heavy shields, helmets etc. for them. However, the rule was that they could only make them carry it one mile. In the scene I mentioned Jesus and His disciples, including the women with them, were forced to carry the stuff for some soldiers while they mocked them. At the end of mile Jesus kept walking. He told them they would go two miles voluntarily. The demeanor of the Roman soldiers changed immediately. They stopped mocking and even took back some of their stuff so the loads weren’t so heavy. They knew instantly that these men and women were different (especially Jesus of course.)

So why did Jesus tell us to go two miles instead of one? To give the Roman soldiers a break? Of course not. The point of all of those directives is to show that we are different. This gets the attention of those around us and suddenly we find ourselves in a position of influence, and we can win-some. People notice behaviors and attitudes that are against the current. Think about at work, being respectful and caring even when you don’t feel like the recipient deserves it.

Some people get hung up on “not being a door mat” but it looks to me like Jesus wasn’t worried about that. He didn’t say turn the other cheek except when it will make you look weak, or unless they have done it to you twice already. Hard truth, but He didn’t say that anywhere. Yes, He calls us to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves, but He is worried about souls and He calls us to remember who the real enemy is, always. If we can remember that then we can pray for the person disrespecting us and launch our battle against the real enemy instead. Pray for wisdom to know how to disarm those who disrespect or mistreat us. We often have egos that don’t tolerate even a little disrespect, and we see here that Jesus is calling us to rise above that. Is it more important that everyone respects us always or that souls are reached? Tough Truth…pray on that.

Jesus, thank you for being the perfect example for me. Help me to walk in your path. Help me to set aside my pride and see the situations I face with your patience, grace and wisdom. Help me to love people more than my comfort and help me to have a heart for their souls more than my respect. Remind me that you never demanded respect from the world and if anyone had a right to demand it, you did. I’m sorry for not handling things right in the past. Help me to live against the current.

(Please know that I am NOT excusing physical abuse, if you are in a situation of physical abuse, you need to call for help and get out of that situation.)