38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’39 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. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
This shows me that the Lord will handle all of our problems and it's not my duty to find justice for myself. There is no need for man to plot revenge against others and take matters into our own hands because God is our defender. It is better to please God than to seek my own justice. Not only does God stop with we are not to seek revenge, but then also we are to give to those who are wanting to take from us. Then, go even a step farther and not only are we supposed to let them slap us, give to them, but then we are to love them. We are to treat them as someone we love. If someone I loved asked for my shirt I would give it to them without hesitation, but it's not so easy when it's someone I don't care so much about. It's not so easy when I feel like I'm being taking advantage of. We come up with many excuses for why we don't live these verses. We think about the other's motives, what they don't do, what they've said and done wrong, when God didn't really make it optional. If they want to hit you, let them hit you again. If they want your shirt, give them more than they asked for. If they want a mile, go another mile. If they ask of you don't turn them away.
God doesn't just say to love my friends, but to love everyone. Many people find it easy to love our neighbors and hate our enemies, but God says that we must love all, just as He loves. He's asking the question "Have you forgotten how I love you and died for you? Did you forget that you weren't perfect? That you were a sinner when I gave to you? That you were a failure when I died for you?
Love all. Give to all. Pray for all.
Katherine H.
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