Turn the cheek and go the extra mile - Greg Laurie - http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/turn-the-cheek-and-go-the-extra-mile/
Pastor Greg Laurie asserts, 'Forgiven people should be forgiving people'
Some people think of Jesus as the ultimate pacifist, like the first hippie of sorts, walking around and scattering flowers with a lamb wrapped around his neck. That may be the Jesus of their imaginations, but it is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible was loving, forgiving and compassionate, but the Jesus of the Bible also administered justice. He drove the moneychangers out of the temple with a whip.
Even so, Jesus set very high standards for his followers. In the Sermon on the Mount he said, "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" (Matthew 5:38-41 NIV).
This is not to say that Christians are to be doormats. There is a place for self-defense. But here Jesus was giving specific advice for Christians when they are persecuted. These are not mechanical rules; they are principles for meeting the personal wrongs that come to those who follow Christ. There are times, for the sake of God's kingdom, that we take the hit, turn the other cheek, or go the extra mile.
In Jesus' day, a Roman soldier could require, by law, a subject of Rome to carry his pack for him one mile. Jesus was saying, "Don't carry it for only a mile. Go the extra mile."
Jesus also spoke of turning the other cheek: "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." In the culture of Jesus' day, striking someone in the face was among one of the most demeaning and contemptuous acts. Even a slave would rather be struck on the back than on the face. It was a calculated insult.
Modern equivalents of this might be slapping someone in the face, spitting on them, or making an obscene gesture. Jesus was saying not to strike back. Just let it go.
Is that an easy thing to do? No. Even the great apostle Paul struggled with this. When the high priest Ananias commanded that Paul be struck on the mouth, Paul shot back, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" (Acts 23:3) He was irritated. He was human, like you and me.
We all have been wronged in life. Most of us have been slandered, mistreated, ripped off, or taken advantage off. Jesus was not saying we should be the doormats for the planet. We are not to strike out but are instead to love people in a positive way.
Jesus concluded, "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" (Matthew 5:44).
This selflessness, this love Jesus calls for is found in many people whom God used. It was the spirit of Abraham when he gave the best land to his undeserving nephew, Lot. It was the spirit of Joseph when he kissed his brothers who had so badly mistreated him. It was the spirit that would not let David take advantage of the opportunity to take the life of King Saul, who had been pursuing him. It was the spirit that caused Stephen to pray for those who were stoning him to death. It was the spirit that every one of God's children should have.
If you are harboring hatred for someone in your life, I want to tell you something: It will bring your prayer life to a halt. In the same sermon Jesus said, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24).
Someone may have mistreated you or said something unkind. Why not go ahead and forgive him or her? You will find that it will help you maybe even more than it will help the other person. They may not even be aware of how much you hate them. They may not even know about your bitterness. Yet it consumes you and hurts you. It is killing you slowly. Why don't you do what Jesus said? Don't wait until you feel it. Just do it. It has been said that when you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free: yourself.
There is no greater example of someone who did all of these things than Jesus himself. After he had identified Judas as his betrayer, Jesus said, "What you do, do quickly" (John 13:27). Judas left, and the next time Jesus encountered Judas was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew Judas was there to betray him. He knew Judas was facilitating his arrest. Yet Jesus said, "Friend, why have you come?" (Matthew 26:50). It was one last chance for Judas to repent, and he missed it.
Then, as Jesus hung on the cross, what were his first words? "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34 NKJV).
Some might say, "Well, that is good for Jesus. He is God."
That's true. But the Bible says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). We are to follow His example. Jesus died on the cross because we need forgiveness. Then we should extend that forgiveness to others. Forgiven people should be forgiving people.
May God help us to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. May he enable us to have a change of heart so that we don't harbor hatred and lust.
Pastor Greg Laurie asserts, 'Forgiven people should be forgiving people'
Some people think of Jesus as the ultimate pacifist, like the first hippie of sorts, walking around and scattering flowers with a lamb wrapped around his neck. That may be the Jesus of their imaginations, but it is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus of the Bible was loving, forgiving and compassionate, but the Jesus of the Bible also administered justice. He drove the moneychangers out of the temple with a whip.
Even so, Jesus set very high standards for his followers. In the Sermon on the Mount he said, "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" (Matthew 5:38-41 NIV).
This is not to say that Christians are to be doormats. There is a place for self-defense. But here Jesus was giving specific advice for Christians when they are persecuted. These are not mechanical rules; they are principles for meeting the personal wrongs that come to those who follow Christ. There are times, for the sake of God's kingdom, that we take the hit, turn the other cheek, or go the extra mile.
In Jesus' day, a Roman soldier could require, by law, a subject of Rome to carry his pack for him one mile. Jesus was saying, "Don't carry it for only a mile. Go the extra mile."
Jesus also spoke of turning the other cheek: "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." In the culture of Jesus' day, striking someone in the face was among one of the most demeaning and contemptuous acts. Even a slave would rather be struck on the back than on the face. It was a calculated insult.
Modern equivalents of this might be slapping someone in the face, spitting on them, or making an obscene gesture. Jesus was saying not to strike back. Just let it go.
Is that an easy thing to do? No. Even the great apostle Paul struggled with this. When the high priest Ananias commanded that Paul be struck on the mouth, Paul shot back, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" (Acts 23:3) He was irritated. He was human, like you and me.
We all have been wronged in life. Most of us have been slandered, mistreated, ripped off, or taken advantage off. Jesus was not saying we should be the doormats for the planet. We are not to strike out but are instead to love people in a positive way.
Jesus concluded, "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" (Matthew 5:44).
This selflessness, this love Jesus calls for is found in many people whom God used. It was the spirit of Abraham when he gave the best land to his undeserving nephew, Lot. It was the spirit of Joseph when he kissed his brothers who had so badly mistreated him. It was the spirit that would not let David take advantage of the opportunity to take the life of King Saul, who had been pursuing him. It was the spirit that caused Stephen to pray for those who were stoning him to death. It was the spirit that every one of God's children should have.
If you are harboring hatred for someone in your life, I want to tell you something: It will bring your prayer life to a halt. In the same sermon Jesus said, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24).
Someone may have mistreated you or said something unkind. Why not go ahead and forgive him or her? You will find that it will help you maybe even more than it will help the other person. They may not even be aware of how much you hate them. They may not even know about your bitterness. Yet it consumes you and hurts you. It is killing you slowly. Why don't you do what Jesus said? Don't wait until you feel it. Just do it. It has been said that when you forgive someone, you set a prisoner free: yourself.
There is no greater example of someone who did all of these things than Jesus himself. After he had identified Judas as his betrayer, Jesus said, "What you do, do quickly" (John 13:27). Judas left, and the next time Jesus encountered Judas was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew Judas was there to betray him. He knew Judas was facilitating his arrest. Yet Jesus said, "Friend, why have you come?" (Matthew 26:50). It was one last chance for Judas to repent, and he missed it.
Then, as Jesus hung on the cross, what were his first words? "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34 NKJV).
Some might say, "Well, that is good for Jesus. He is God."
That's true. But the Bible says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). We are to follow His example. Jesus died on the cross because we need forgiveness. Then we should extend that forgiveness to others. Forgiven people should be forgiving people.
May God help us to turn the other cheek and go the extra mile. May he enable us to have a change of heart so that we don't harbor hatred and lust.
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