Stand Out from the Crowd
Matthew 5:40-42 If anyone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. If a soldier forces you to walk with him one mile, go with him two. Give to anyone who asks you for something. Don’t refuse to give to anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Sad to say that as I examine my own heart, I realise time and again how strong a sense of entitlement has been bred into me simply by being immersed in the culture in which I live. How about you?
It can be as simple as the incessant barking of the new puppy that’s just moved in next door. Nero’s ever so cute, but in his high, squeaky voice, he’ll sometimes bark for hours on end.
“I’m entitled to the quiet enjoyment of my home,”I tell myself. Which I am, under the law of the land. So should I complain to my neighbour, or just be patient and wait for Nero to grow out his puppy stage?
Bottom line: I could either make or break that relationship, bring honour or dishonour to God, depending on how I react. Jesus put it like this:
Matthew 5:40-42 If anyone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let them have your coat too. If a soldier forces you to walk with him one mile, go with him two. Give to anyone who asks you for something. Don’t refuse to give to anyone who wants to borrow from you.
When someone cuts you some slack, when they overlook your faults, when they’re patient with you … how does that make you feel toward them?
Roger Staubach is one of the true greats of American football, a former naval officer and a Medal of Freedom Winner. After a lifetime of service and success, he makes this powerful observation: There are no traffic jams along the extra mile.
If you want to stand out for the right reasons, listen to Jesus. Go the extra mile.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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