Word for Today, Wed, 14 Jul 2004: Learning A Much Different Way
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
This message comes straight from one of Jesus' major recorded
public sermons, the well known Sermon on the Mount. In His
sermon, Jesus turns around many prevailing practices of His day.
The sad thing is, many of the same practices remain prevalent
today. What have we learned in two thousand years?
I urge everyone to read the Sermon on the Mount again. If you've
never read it, this sermon provides critical principles of the
faith. Many other passages of scripture, particularly the
epistles of the apostle Paul, base their principles on the truths
presented by Christ. If you have read the Sermon on the Mount,
it would be a good idea to read it again. I've read it countless
times myself, and it seems I always either come up with a fresh
perspective when reading it again or at the very least, I renew
my mind. I know that I need to do such things regularly. I hope
you consider doing so, too.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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July 14
Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile
I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on
your right cheek, turn the other to him also -Matthew 5:39
This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the
natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is
a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of
the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are
insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it
an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you
cannot imitate the nature of Jesus -- it is either in you or it
is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to
reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.
The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, "Do your duty,"
but is, in effect, "Do what is not your duty." It is not your
duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus
said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these
things. We will not say, "Oh well, I just can't do any more, and
I've been so misrepresented and misunderstood." Every time I
insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in
fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow
myself. That is the real meaning of filling "up in my flesh what
is lacking in the afflictions of Christ..." ( Colossians 1:24 ).
A disciple realizes that it is his Lord's honor that is at stake
in his life, not his own honor.
Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease
to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet
the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is --
Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/utmost-devo/print.php?month=07&day=14
2003 RBC Ministries-Grand Rapids MI, 49555-0001
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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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