DEVOTION ~ THE EXTRA FOR CHRIST

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Theme: The Extra for Christ 
Text: Matthew 5:38-42

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.


Life's lessons can best be understood from biblical perspective. We are shaped to know what will become of us if we learn to be true disciples of Christ. Revenge does not only pay back evil to the person to whom it is meant but also leaves a scare of regret on the perpetrator. Christ cautions us not to pay back evil as it was in the past (an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth) but rather do good in return for evil. (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21)

Christ has set a perfect example to us when He suffered in the hands of the soldiers to the cross. He willingly gave His back to those who struck Him, His cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; He did not hide His face from shame and spitting. His instruction to us to go an extra mile was just not a lip service but He has demonstrated it so we could learn from Him. (Isaiah 50:6)

Dear beloved in the Lord, going the extra mile for Christ simply means resist retaliation and pleasing God. For peace to prevail in your marriage, family, workplace, community, congregation, and wherever you find yourself, you need the extra mile for Christ to overlook the wrong done against you. Anytime the thought of evil occurs, just imagine the suffering of the Lord and how silent He was through it all. Do not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (Proverbs 20:22; 1 Peter 3:9)


Prayer: Father in heaven, take hold of my heart and thought, transform them to flee from revenge. Make me see your glory even in my afflictions and empower me to go the extra mile for Jesus in all that I do. This I pray in Jesus' name. AMEN! 

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