Day 23 – COSTLY GRACE – An Eye for an Eye?

Matthew 5:38-42

PAUSE –
Take a deep breath, offer this time and your focus to the Lord with the Psalmist

      Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 

      Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.  

     When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long... 

     Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. 

     I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”                              Psalm 32:1-3,5

REJOICE in his goodness with Psalm 32:11

      And you forgave the guilt of my sin…

      Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you are righteous; sing all you who are upright in heart!

In 1966, 22-year-old British college graduate Jackie Pullinger felt a call to be a missionary, but she had difficulty getting support from any mission’s organization.  Determined to go where the Gospel was needed, she boarded a boat to Hong Kong, arriving with $10 in her pocket. She secured a job as a teacher in the dangerous Kowloon Walled City, notorious for gangs and drugs. Her story of developing a powerful, transformative ministry is outlined in her book “Chasing the Dragon” where she writes:

“If they could not understand the words about Jesus then we Christians should show them what He was like by the way we lived.  I remembered He had said, If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles,’ So this was the beginning of what I called ‘walking the extra mile’. There seemed to be a lot of Christians who did not mind walking one, not many who could be bothered to walk two, and no one who wanted to walk three. Those in need that I met seemed to need a marathon.”

Read and Reflect –
Consider Jackie’s words as we read again today from Matthew 5:38-42

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. 

Reread and Reflect on the passage. It is short so you can read it through slowly 2 or 3 times. Reflecting on the words of Jesus and the thoughts of Jackie Pullinger, what do you think it might mean to go the 2nd mile for someone in your neighborhood, community, and church? How about the 3rd mile?

Jackie also famously says: 

God wants us to have soft hearts, and hard feet. The trouble with so many of us is that we have hard hearts and soft feet.

Mother Theresa was also an amazing example of being the hands and feet of Jesus in her service to the poorest of the poor in India.  She was known to sacrifice her own comfort and well-being for the benefit of others. It is said that when a delivery of shoes came to the mission, she would take the worst pair - often a pair that was too small - so that others could have the best. At her death her casket was open, and her feet were bare allowing everyone to see her crippled and misshapen feet from years of sacrifice and generosity. 

ASK –
Lord, help me to see others with compassion and generosity today.  Would you give me/us a soft heart and hard feet to go where You lead? Lord, we need to go to those who need hope and the love of Jesus. Please awaken us to see people with your eyes, and to love as you love.

YIELD –
Remember we can only give as much grace as we have received.  We are not motivated by guilt but by His mercy. Open your hands to receive His mercy in your area of pain or fear and allow this grace to lead you today. 

WWJDIHWM - What Would Jesus Do If He Was Me?

We are anointed to preach and proclaim:

• Freedom – of those held captive, imprisoned

• Recovery – of sight for the blind (restoration of what once was)

• Release – of those held in bondage, trapped, with no rights or resources

• Favor – Jubilee, the year/season of forgiveness of debts and new beginnings