May 25

A Longsuffering Giving Love

 
     We take the Sermon on the Mount for granted. But when Jesus spoke to the multitudes, He was teaching radical things they had never heard before in a way they had never experienced from any other Rabbi.  In fact, Jesus was tasked with re-teaching and un-teaching things that had followed the people of God for millennia.  Here is one such example from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 5:38-45:

“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 an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.  Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.  You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven…"

After these words of our Lord Master, it was no longer right to extract vengeance at every turn for every slight.  Indeed, Jesus taught that the opposite was true; that His children are to rely on a supernatural force to do the impossible – love enemies and pray blessings on those who persecute!  This command represents an extraordinary patience with those who set out to hurt and to destroy. 

But it is not impossible at all – for within each of us lives the sweet Spirit of the Living God who not only can, but will, give us all that we need to make these verses come alive in our lives, as we love with an extraordinary patience and surprising power that comes only from the heart of the Holy Spirit of the King of Kings.