April 10 - Matthew 5:38-42

April 10 - Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

Jesus taught love at all cost.  These are some of the hardest things we have to learn.  How do we love no matter what?

How do we choose to love when someone hurts us?  How do we love when someone steals from us or forces us to do things we don’t want to do?

We have a tendency to want things to be fair.  We like it when people get what they deserve.  It only seems … fair.  If people don’t work for a living, we certainly don’t feel as if we should be caring for them. If they steal from us, we want retribution. If they mess with us, we want to make sure they learn a lesson.  We want things to be fair.

But, Jesus calls us to be different from the world. He calls us to step above the culture we live in and those things that influence us.  We need to influence our culture.  We need to stand above it and be different.

We are Christians and this means we are to be Christ-like.  Trying to be fair limits us in our love.

Love is so much more than fair. Love gives when we can’t give anymore, it goes the extra mile.