Tag Archives: Matthew 5:38-42

Do Not Resist

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Matthew 5:38-42 - Do Not Resist - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Matthew 5:38-42 – Do Not Resist – Growing As Disciples

“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 the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42 (ESV)  

Turn Your Cheek

That’s tough. What’s tough? It is difficult to turn the other cheek to someone that is mistreating me. That is not my first inclination. That is not my natural response to someone who has hurt or harmed me. What has been your natural inclination and first response to those who have mistreated you? I have wanted to secure revenge. I have wanted to repay every evil that has ever been committed against me. I have wanted to settle accounts. I have wanted to get even. I have wanted to inflict as much pain as I can to those who have hurt or harmed. Has doing that made you feel better? Has doing that brought great benefit to your life? No, I have never felt better when I have sought revenge. No, seeking revenge has never brought any benefit to my life. How often have you actually sought revenge? Not very often, probably hardly ever. I can’t remember a time when I have actually sought revenge. But, you have contemplated seeking revenge. You have deeply considered ways you could seek revenge. Yes, that’s true. Isn’t that just as much a waste of time and effort as actually seeking revenge? Yes, it is.

You mentioned your natural inclinations. Yes, I did. Is that how you want to live your life? Do you want to live your life by your natural inclinations? No, I don’t want to live my life by my natural inclinations. I don’t want to do simply what comes naturally to me. Why is that? My natural inclinations are worldly. My natural inclinations are sinful. My natural inclinations stand in opposition to you. You are calling me to live a supernatural life that is empowered by your Holy Spirit. Yes, I am. Turning your cheek to someone who mistreats you is a supernatural inclination. Going inconveniently far out of your way to serve another person is a supernatural inclination. Giving to those who want to beg or borrow from you is a supernatural inclination. Will you do these things for me? Yes Lord, I will. I will rely on your Holy Spirit to help me to live the supernatural life that you are calling me to live. That will be very good.

Lord, turning the other cheek has not been my first inclination when I have been mistreated. I have wanted to repay evil committed against me with evil. Forgive me. Help me to turn the other cheek to those who mistreat me so that I can be a witness for you. Amen

Key Question… How difficult has it been for you to turn the other cheek when someone has mistreated you?

Living It Out… Turn the other cheek when someone mistreats you so that you will be able to be a witness for Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to be a witness for Him by turning the other check when you are mistreated.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how turning the other cheek has helped you be a witness for Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn your other cheek to someone who mistreats you, so you can be a witness for Jesus Christ.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

God’s Will – Matthew 5-38-42 – Do Not Resist – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Practice The Servant Life

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The Virtuous Life - Day 211 - Matthew 5-38-42 - Practice The Servant Life - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 211 – Matthew 5-38-42 – Practice The Servant Life – Growing As Disciples

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’  Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.  If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.  And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.  No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. Matthew 5:38-42 (MSG)

Servant Life

That is how I want to live. That is how I want to think and speak and act. How do you want to live? How do you want to think and speak and act? I want to live as a servant. I want to have a servant attitude in me when things don’t go my way. When don’t things go your way? When will you need to be especially focused on thinking and speaking and acting as a servant? I need to practice servant living when I am mistreated. That is the most obvious instance, that comes to my mind. Never should I seek revenge. Never you should I practice tit-for-tat. I will need to treat others as I would wish to be treated under every circumstance. Under what other circumstances must you also practice living as a servant? Whenever someone disappoints me and does think or speak or act according to my expectations, I need to practice living as a servant. What are your expectations? I expect to be treated honestly. I expect to be treated fairly. I expect people to keep their word. I expect people to deliver on their promises. I expect people to act responsibly. I expect others to treat me as they wish to be treated. You do have a lot of expectations. What will you do when people fail to live up to your expectations? That is when, I need to set aside my expectations. That is when, I need to practice living the servant life. That is when, I most need to follow the example that you have set before me. What example have I set before you? You loved and served and gave regardless of how others thought or spoke or acted towards you. Other’s behavior did not determine your behavior. You lived out the servant life no matter how you were treated. Will you think as I thought? Will you speak as I spoke? Will you act as I acted when you are disappointed, and even mistreated, by others? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not seek revenge. I will not attempt to pay others back when they mistreat me. Instead, I will practice the servant life when I am mistreated. I will follow your example. I will think as you thought. I will speak as you spoke. I will act as you acted. Amen

Key Question…  How has Jesus Christ given you an example to follow of how to practice the servant life?

Living It Out…  Make every effort to practice the servant life whenever you are mistreated.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your life will bear fruit for the Kingdom of God as you practice the servant life?

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are practicing the servant life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you practice the servant life when others mistreat you.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here:

The Virtuous Life – Day 211 – Matthew 5-38-42 – Practice The Servant Life – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Two Miles

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Justice - Matthew 5:38-42 - Two Miles- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Justice – Matthew 5:38-42 – Two Miles- Growing As Disciples

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42 (NIV)

Extra Mile

This will be a major attitude adjustment for you. What’s that? You are a fighter. You like the heat of battle. You like to win, sometimes not matter what the cost. Dropping a matter does not come easily to you. You are not likely to let an evil person go unchallenged. You have been prone to consider how you might get even by seeking revenge. I have usually only thought about it. Rarely, have I ever taken steps to get even or seek revenge. I can’t even remember when I might have done that. Yes, I know. But you have certainly wasted a lot of time and energy by fantasizing about spectacular ways you could get even or seek revenge. That’s true, I must admit. How do you want me to adjust my attitude? How about thinking about spectacular ways that you can show my love and kindness to those who mistreat you? That would be a major attitude adjustment for me. Yes, it would be. But, let’s not stop there. What else? How about actually doing something loving and kind to those who mistreat you. Just thinking loving and kind thoughts toward those who mistreat you will not be nearly enough. Just praying for those who mistreat you, although a very good start, will not be enough either. I want you to take loving and kind action toward those who mistreat you. I want you to go way out of your way to do loving and kind things for those who mistreat you. How far out of my way? I want you to go the extra mile to show love and kindness toward those who mistreat you. What does that mean? It means I want you to do what is far beyond what you might normally consider doing. I want you to go way out of your way to show love and kindness to those who mistreat you. I want those who mistreat you to be completely astounded by your love and kindness toward them. Really? Yes, really. 

What will happen when you show love and kindness to those who mistreat you? Those who mistreat me will wonder why I am responding to their evil with love and kindness. Yes, they will. They will wonder where such love and kindness comes from. It will seem other worldly to them. They will be curious. They will ask questions. Their questions will give me an opportunity to tell them about your love and kindness. My responding to their evil with your love and kindness will allow me to be your witness in the world. They may even come to know you through your love and kindness being expressed in and though my life. That’s right. How much better is that than getting even or seeking revenge? Far better. That’s what I want. I will spectacularly show your love and kindness to those who mistreat me. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have often held grudges. I have often thought about seeking revenge. I have frequently resisted an evil person. Seldom have I gone the extra mile for someone who has mistreated. Help me to show others the love and kindness you have shown to me. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Justice – Matthew 5-38-42 – Two Miles – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com