8/7/2019 3-27-11 FINAL FLYER Matthew 5.38

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Volume 2 Number 13

ENGAGEDMarch 27-April 2

Day 5

Read Genesis 4:23-24Lets contrast Lamech's vindictiveness with theforgiving attitude taught by Christ, who urged Peter toforgive his brother seventy times seven (Matthew18:22).If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and ifhe is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap

burning coals on his head, and the LORD will rewardyou (Proverbs 25:21-22).Similarly, in Proverbs 24:29 we readDo not say, "I'lldo to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that manback for what he did."The practice of personal revenge or personal payback isnot what the Scripture teaches. God is to be theavenger, not us (Deut 32:35, Psalm 94:1, Ro 12:19, He10:30). It is important to understand that this proverb(and the related Proverbs) lifts up a high, ethicalprinciple, which is not opposed to an eye for an eye(Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21), because the Lawwas intended to be overseen by judges, and it required

that the penalty fit the crime. These proverbs areaddressed to individuals and describe the heart attitudeone should maintain when wronged in any way. Thereshould be no personal retaliation or revenge. Nor shouldthere be the continuation of grudges. Have you trulybeen set free from the right to be right attitude?

Do you really believe in what this weeksverses say? Do you really believe in going thesecond mile unforced? Or do you come to a point ofasking, whats in this relationship for me? Remindyourself of your responsibility today, by readingPhilippians 2:5-15. If you can, read it in the NIV,where it starts by saying in your relationships withone another

Heres another old saying that deserves asecond look: eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Is thatgoing to get us anywhere? Heres what I propose:Dont hit back at all. If someone strikes you, standthere and take it. If someone drags you into courtand sues for the shirt off your back, gift-wrap yourbest coat and make a present of it. And if someonetakes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion topractice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff.Live enerousl . Matthew 5:38-42. THE MESSAGE

Day 4

How much happier the world would be ifBelievers were not to demand their personal rights.Who does not know that quarrelling, strife,selfishness and unkindness, cause half the miseriesof the world? Who can fail to see that nothing wouldtend to increase happiness in the world, as does thespread of Christian love? Let us all remember this:those who think that true faith has any tendency tomake men unhappy, are greatly mistaken. It is theabsence of true faith that does this, and not thepresence of it. Real faith tends to promote peace,and charity, and kindness, and goodwill among men.The more men are brought under the teaching of theHoly Spirit, the more they will love one another, andthe happier they will be. What are you spreading?

When an ambassador from America goesinto another country, he or she can go alone intoharsh, even dangerous meetings, knowing they notonly represent America in that relationship, but arebacked by the full power and authority of thatcountry. They are not only one person, but are theentire country, vested in their presence in eachmeeting. Think of yourself in this vein, as you dealwith difficult relationships. You do not go alone if youare a Believer. Your relationship to Christ is yourpower and authority. You can go with confidenceinto difficult relationships as an ambassador of the

Kingdom.

Children of the Father. What do you domore than others? We must measure ourselves notby others, but by the Father. This includes ourwords (vv. 33-37), our responses to injuries (vv. 38-42), and our dealings with our enemies (vv. 43-48).NKJV

Matthew 5:38

You have heard that it was said, Eye foreye, and tooth for tooth.

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8/7/2019 3-27-11 FINAL FLYER Matthew 5.38

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Day 1

Thoughts and words such as these arefound nowhere but in our Scripture. The law ofretaliation has in every nation been labeled theright thing to do, but in the Christian conduct, it isexpressly forbidden.The law of retaliation will ultimately lead to twothings:

1. A rigid maintenance of our rights this line ofthinking leads to a sense of entitlement2. Keen resentment of wrongs this line ofthinking leads to a complaining/victim/martyroutlook from ones own lifeBoth of these views focus on the wrongthingsself. They both also remove God fromthe equation, as if He is not able to defend you.Which do you more often line up with: The lawof retaliation or the Christian conduct?

This weeks passage is where therelational rubber meets the road. We all likerelationships that benefit us, that stroke our ego,and enhance our enjoyment of life. But whatabout those draining relationships that sap ourenergy? Today, assess the relationships youhave in your life, and ask yourself which of thoserelationships are with takers. Do you avoidthem? Do you begrudge the time? What does

this passage say about relationships withtakers?

In Exodus 21:24~ Eye for eye, tooth fortooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn,wound for wound, bruise for bruise. The lex

talionis (law of retaliation) did provide for theending of feuds, but Christ showed another wayto do the same in verses 39-42. Together, as afamily, go back and read Exodus 21 and Matthew5:39-42. NKJV

Day 2

Well the Pharisees had it right. God did sayeye for eye/tooth for tooth. Read Ex 21:22-27;Leviticus 24:19, 20; Deuteronomy 19:19, 20, 21.However, this is not speaking personally butnationally. In the Old Testament, God was giving thelaw to the people, communally. He also set upjudges and court systems to make sure everyone

was treated equally. The Pharisees perverted thispart of the law and ultimately gave every man theright to defend themselves, however they wished, ifthey had been mistreated. They gave every man thefreedom to be unforgiving, demanding andrevengeful. This, however, goes against the teachingof our Father. We have our Lords rules for ourconduct towards one another. Whoever wants toknow how he ought to feel and act towards his fellow-man, should often study these verses. This teachingfrom Jesus has been praised even from the enemiesof Christianity. Let us mark well what they contain.

The Lord Jesus forbids everything like an unforgivingand revengeful spirit. Why do you think we struggleso much with desiring revenge and fairness?

Today, look for opportunities to give, in yourrelationships. Whether you are spending time with aspouse, children, co-workers, etc., look foropportunities to spend your energy for their benefit.

Gods purpose for this law was Mercy. It wasgiven to judges and said, in effect, Make thepunishment fit the crime. It was not a guide forpersonal revenge. Together, as a family, talk about

Mercy.

Day 3

If these verses (listed in Day 2) weremore often followed by true believers, they wouldpromote Christianity to the world far more thanthey do. There is no small part of this verse. It isgiving proper attention to the spirit of thispassage which makes our faith beautiful. It is theneglect of these things which makes our faith

deformed. Unfailing courtesy, kindness,tenderness and consideration for others, aresome of the greatest accessories to the characterof the child of God. The world can understandthese things, even if it can not/will not understandits doctrine. There is no faith in rudeness,roughness, bluntness and incivility. Theperfection of practical Christianity consists infaithfulness to the smallest duties of holiness aswell as to the greatest. Do you properly promoteChristianity by the way you deal with unfairnessin your own life?

How does one survive in one-wayrelationships? A one-way relationship is where itseems all the giving is on one side, and all thetaking on the other. Consider this today as youthink about surviving those relationships in whichyou only give. Your fulfillment does not comefrom mutual human relationships. Only arelationship with Christ ultimately fulfills. All otherrelationships are an outgrowth of the quality ofthis relationship.

These laws were given to limit vengeanceand help the court mete out punishment that wasneither too strict nor too lenient. Some people,however, were using this phrase to justify theirvendettas against others. People still try toexcuse their acts of revenge by saying I was just

doing to him what he did to me. How manytimes in your own family have you heard thephrase I was just doing to him/her what he/shedid to me? Go back and read Exodus 21:23-25.

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