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MAT 5:38-39, "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 him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also." EYE FOR EYE MEANS NOT MORE THAN EQUAL PUNISHMENT. JESUS STATED WHAT IS CALLED THE GOLDEN RULE: MAT 7:7-12, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Someone has stated that we should get even with all those people who have done good to us. What about Jesus? Of course, we can never repay what He has done for us, but we can at least attempt to return good to Him by treating one another with love. MAT 5:40-42, "And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force 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." When someone sins against us we have probably already sinned against them in our first thoughts. The Bible teaches that any transgression of the law is a sin - there are no little ones and big ones. As we continue to hold a grudge, we continue to give more than an eye for an eye. EPH 4:25-27, "Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one {of you,} with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and {yet} do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." Have you ever noticed that sometimes we get angry and remain bitter with people and actually forget why we're so upset? Take, for example, the notorious Hatfield - McCoy feud. It hit newspaper front pages in the 1880's, when the Hatfield clan feuded with the McCoy clan from across the border in Kentucky. Historians disagree on the cause of the feud - which captured the imagination of the nation during a 10-year run. Some cite Civil War tensions: McCoys sympathized with the Union, Hatfields with the Confederacy. Others say it began when the McCoys blamed the Hatfields for stealing hogs. As many as 100 men, women and children died. In May 1976, Jim McCoy and Willis Hatfield - the last two survivors of the original families - shook hands at a public ceremony dedicating a monument to six of the victims. McCoy died Feb. 11, 1984, at age 99. He bore no grudges - and had his burial handled by the Hatfield Funeral Home in Toler, Ky. (From USA TODAY, 4-14-88) MAT 5:43-48, "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 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and the good, and sends rain on {the} righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more {than others}? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." We may never be able to be perfect, but we can work toward that end. HOW DO WE RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL? We can never be successful by following our feelings. We need to follow what we know is right. The Scripture tells us to concentrate on the good things. PHI 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." As we work and pray for the good of those who we would hate, our feelings will be changed. We need to be lead by what we know God wants us to do - not by our feelings. He will help us change our feelings if we start to control our actions. |
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| When darkness long has veil'd my mind, And smiling day once more appears; Then, my Redeemer, then I find The folly of my doubts and fears. Straight I upbraid my wand'ring heart, And blush that I should ever be Thus prone to act so base a part, Or harbour one hard thought of thee! Oh ! let me then at length be taught What I am still so slow to learn; That God is love, and changes not, Nor knows the shadow of a turn. Sweet truth, and easy to repeat! But when my faith is sharply try'd, I find myself a learner yet, Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide. But, O my Lord, one look from thee Subdues the disobedient will; Drives doubt and discontent away, And thy rebellious worm is still. Thou art as ready to forgive, As I am ready to repine; Thou, therefore, all the praise receive; Be shame and self-abhorrence mine. WILLIAM COWPER |
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| John 1:14, And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. |
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| Nearer to Thee! Even though it be a cross That raiseth me: Still all my song shall be Nearer, my God! to Thee, Nearer to Thee. Though, like the wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I'd be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee. Then let the way appear Steps unto heaven; All that Thou sendest me In mercy given: Angels to beckon me Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee. Then with my waking thoughts Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee. Or if on joyful wing, Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upward I fly: Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee. SARAH FLOWER ADAMS 1805-1848 |
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