January 13, 2025 | Be God's Family
A Challenge for Every Day
Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48(NIV)
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 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. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 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. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Devotional
These 10 verses contain so much in such a short space: there is a reference to the Old Testament (“an eye for an eye…”) and there is a challenge for those who are of the New Testament (“turn your cheek”). This evolution between the Old and New Testaments asks us to likewise learn to accept insult without seeking retaliation, even if we feel we would be justified in doing so.
Many years ago, my father was ill and in treating this illness, the doctor created a new problem that caused a lifelong disability for him. In the midst of all this, I asked him why he didn’t sue the doctor. His response: “What good would it do?” He had forgiven the doctor, did not carry any resentment, and had no need to retaliate. He kept this doctor in his prayers and thought only about the good. This is what we are being asked to do.
We are also asked to love our enemy. Does this sound impossible to you? Proverbs 25:21-22 says, “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” When we do good to those we don’t care for, to those who mistreat us, we are acting in the most Christian of ways. We are being “god-like,” according to William Barclay’s Study Bible Series.
The second part of this passage asks us to be benevolent–to want only the good for others. Just as God sends the rain on the good and the bad, so we should send good wishes to any and all that we come in contact with, even those who mistreat us. (Think about those pesky drivers you meet!)
Jesus finishes by charging us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect.” Again, this seems impossible until we realize that Jesus is asking us to fulfil the purpose to which we have been called: the purpose to be God’s people, here and now, to everyone and anyone we meet.
I find this a challenge every day–do you? Who is God asking you to pray for? To show kindness to? You will find that you can no longer hate if you are praying for someone. I challenge you to try this and see.
Poem
Vengeance
Psalm 59
I’ve been unjustly mangled
I’ve been betrayed, denied
My friend now enemy becomes
Against me all have lied
I’m lava, hot and molten
My anger burning flows
I sit before you mourning
With ashes and torn clothes
I want to gouge their eyes out
I want my pound of flesh
Yet You call me to hide in You
Forgiving all the rest
To kneeling prayer You call me
Perfection is Your rule
Vengeance is not mine to dole out
Let me not be the fool
Instead, I wait upon Your will
Your timing will I trust
You are my strength, I sing Your praise
My God, my true fortress
