Devotion:
For an audio version of this devotion, click here.
Read Matthew 5:33-42.
We continue through this opening section of the “Sermon On The Mount” in Matthew’s Gospel with two more lessons from Jesus on what it means to be his people. The first one has to do with living our life in such a way that people can trust what we say. Over the years, I’ve heard people use phrases like “I swear on a stack of Bibles” or “I swear on my mother’s grave” in an attempt to get someone to believe what they have just told them. If we are always honest with people, then they will know they can trust us when we tell them something.
The second lesson is Jesus once again raising the bar on how people treat each other. In the days of the Old Testament, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” had raised the bar in that time. Jesus taught an ethic that went well beyond that understanding. We are not to strike back or seek revenge on those who do or say things against us. His people are to always seek to do good to others and not let someone else’s behavior determine how we are going to act. It can be a very difficult way to live at times, but he showed us that it could be done by how he lived his life.
Personal Worship Option:
Reflect on ways you have encountered the situations these two lessons are about. Pray for wisdom and courage to live the way of Christ in your everyday life.
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