In the time of Christ, God’s people lived under oppression both from Roman rulers and from religious leaders obsessed with the tiniest minutia of Law and traditions of men. Law… oppressive rules and more law. How miserable.
Blessed are the meek…
It probably isn’t unreasonable to assume, therefore, the people were forced to cope with frustration and anger against unfair authority figures and controlling religious leaders coming and going. No wonder they wanted a political savior who would deliver them out from under oppression and make their lives easier.
Blessed are the merciful…
Instead, their Messiah was a carpenter from a poor town whose message to them was the same as his own demeanor: humility, gentleness, put others first, even including the evil ones oppressing you.
Blessed are the peacemakers…
I confess I would probably have been taken aback at first, too. So much in us wants to rise up and right the wrongs and injustices. In America, it is built into the fabric of our foundation. We began in revolution. And revolution continues today in our hearts, in our DNA.
You heard it was said: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; but I say to you not to resist the evil doer, whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also;
Our young people are taught to resist not just authority, but to even resist those who don’t agree with them. We’ve embraced counselors with humanistic philosophies that affirm us to “set boundaries” and avoid “toxic” people. In other words, only love the people who are easy on you.
For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
We admire leaders, media, entertainment and advertisers that preach all day long, “it is about you… you deserve the best… you should be free to indulge your every appetite, fantasy and mental illness while society applauds you for doing it… you are entitled to be rescued and coddled at every turn… YOU SHOULD NEVER BE UPSET.”
That really is the message, isn’t it? You should never be upset! In other words, you should be able to do whatever makes you feel good, have no one challenge you, and you should always be taken care of and applauded.
Guys, this is fantasy, the idealism of childhood. This false worldview sets us up for perpetual disappointment from dashed expectations and indignation (pride).
And whoever compels you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles;
The teachings of Christ during the Sermon on the Mount and recorded in Matthew chapters 5-7 serve to gently confront our systemically destructive worldview. His way is radically different from human instincts. Everything He taught pushed against human pride and self-centeredness, challenged our revenge itch, and more.
And give to him asking, and he who wants to borrow from you, do not turn away.
Jesus demonstrated what He taught flawlessly by how He lived and how He died. He endured ridicule, oppression, persecution, false accusations, torment and an unfair execution while remaining humble, gentle, giving of Himself, loving and seeking the best for all humans.
You heard it was said: you will love your neighbor and hate your enemy; but I say to you, love your enemies…
As I am today, I urge our readers to soak in the words of Jesus and reflect how different is His message from the world, how divergent from our culture. Let His ways wash and renew our spirits and remake us in His image.
…bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those falsely accusing and persecuting you…
Jesus modeled thinking nothing of ourselves, and instead laying down our lives for others. He demonstrated a path which challenges selfish pride, contradicts constant pleasure seeking, avoids bitterness and resentments, is opposite to the lust for revenge, and is counter-intuitive to craving attention and glory.
And he that does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
If we love Jesus, we are called to follow Him, to imitate Him. His humble, self-sacrificial path is not easy, and it involves sometimes making our peace with suffering. It nudges us to love while often expecting nothing in return. But, in the end, His ways are better for our character, lead to humility and maturity, and are the secret to true peace.
Lest you think, like I do sometimes, that doing things God’s way means you will live your life never having your needs met, let’s remember more of Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:25-26:
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
The Lord WILL take care of us. It is a matter of trust, isn’t it? Let Him take care of you while you walk the way Jesus walked. What a wonderful world it would be if we all lived like this, in sacrificial love toward others and trust in our great Creator.
Walk in humble grace. Be at peace.
–oneseekingtruth
[It is my joy and privilege to continue promoting The Chosen, a series by Dallas Jenkins available for free on the Angel Studios app or website, among other streaming services like Peacock or Prime Video. Words alone are not enough to describe its relevance, quality, Biblical authenticity, and heart. You will feel you are there, will fall in love with the disciples and first followers of Christ, and Christ Himself! Don’t miss it!]
FAITH AND FASTING 