Revenge | May 31
“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.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:38-48
Father, we seem to be so ill-equipped to be perfect when we are in our flesh. Our flesh, the domain of evil inclinations, is as our enemy, something to be overcome. You, Father, have even called those who love You, “overcomers”. Why Father have You created us in such weakness? We know the answer; so your power can be made manifest in our weakness allowing us to be as You.
Father, loving You, as we look at the wonder of Your creation, and learn of Your love for us, seems relatively easy compared to loving each other. We are “in the flesh” far too often, making it difficult for our children, spouses and friends to easily love us.
Since that seems true Father, help each of us this day to constantly check our demeanor, which should make it much easier to love others and to be loved, to forgive and to be forgiven. There are times Father that we just don’t feel like being Spiritually whole. Help us not follow the lead of our feelings but to follow You. In Jesus’ Holy name we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project
