Read: Luke 6:27-36
"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. – Luke 6: 35-36
I like punching people who punch me. It’s true, I do.
As a matter of fact, as a teen I found out that if I punched back straight and hard I usually stopped getting punched. Not very Christian, but effective.
I grew up in a pretty tough part of town where meekness was considered weakness. More often than not weaknesses were exploited to the “bad boys” personal advantage. I guess that’s why every time I read Jesus’ words in Luke I have unpleasant flashbacks.
In my neighborhood, turning the other cheek often meant that you got punched twice. Letting someone take your coat without a fight simply marked you as a push over and you’d probably lose your shirt too; whether you wanted to give it, or not. Doing good to a boy who hated you was considered just plain stupid. So, how does this play out in the real world? How do I take this word and walk in it?
Frankly, I’m probably the last guy who should be talking about this stuff. I still get angry with people who get angry with me, I still have to work through grudges that I hold against my enemies, and I still can’t seem to see bad people without wishing terrible things would happen to them. But, I do know that God is giving me a new way of looking at things that tends to make me do what I never thought I could.
But, before I get into how God is dealing with my need for speed in retaliation, I wonder how you deal with this passage of scripture? What’s your angle? Where are you at in your walk with Christ?
In other words, what’s your point of view?
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