Turn the Other Cheek? : Luke 6:29 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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Turn the Other Cheek? - Luke 6:29

"If a person hits you on the side of your face, let him hit the other side too. If a person takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt too." (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

This doesn't make sense to us if we look at it only on a human level. We don't want people to run all over us. We don't want to be door mats. We don't want folks taking advantage of us. Clearly in Scripture, there comes a time to stop enabling folks to be evil and to stop allowing them to continue their evil behavior because of our fear and compliance. On the other hand, Christians ARE to offer conflicted situations the opportunity to de-escalate instead of "upping the ante" on destructive behavior. This should not be a compliance of fear or powerlessness. Instead, it should be a Kingdom commitment to honor God and do what he says to help bless and redeem others.

Today's Prayer

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Give me strength, O God, to turn the other cheek and to not be embittered. Give me courage, O God, so that I do not lose my heart or my head when others take advantage of me by misusing my help. Give me a generous heart, O Father, so that others can find their way back to you because of my influence and behavior. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

"I say to you people that are listening to me, love your enemies. Do good to those people that hate you. Ask God to bless those people that say bad things to you. Pray for those people that are mean to you. If a person hits you on the side of your face, let him hit the other side too. If a person takes your coat, don't stop him from taking your shirt too. Give to every person that asks you. When a person takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back. Do for other people what you want them to do for you. "If you love only those people that love you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners love the people that love them! If you do good only to those people that do good to you, should you get some special praise for doing that? No! Even sinners do that! If you loan things to people, always expecting to get something back, should you get some special praise for that? No! Even sinners lend to other sinners so that they can get back the same amount! "I'm telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do these things, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High (God). Yes, because God is good even to the people that are full of sin and not thankful. Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy.

— Luke 6:27-36 (ERV)

Comments on "Turn the Other Cheek?":

Your love must be real. Hate the things that are evil. Do only the things that are good. Love each other in a way that you feel close to each other like brothers and sisters. You should want to give your brothers and sisters more honor than you want for yourself. Don't be lazy when you need to be working for the Lord. Be spiritually excited about serving him. Be happy because you have hope. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time. Share with God's people that need help. Look for people that need help, and welcome those people into your homes. Say only good things to those people that do bad things to you. Say good things to them and don't curse them. When other people are happy, you should be happy with them. And when other people are sad, you should be sad with them. Live together in peace with each other. Don't be proud. Be willing to be friends with people who are not important to other people. Don't be conceited. If someone does wrong to you, don't pay him back by doing wrong to him. Try to do the things that all people think are good. Do the best you can to live in peace with all people. My friends, don't try to punish people when they do wrong to you. Wait for God to punish them with his anger. It is written: "I am the One who punishes; I will pay people back," says the Lord. But you should do this: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if your enemy is thirsty, give him something to drink. In this way you will make that person ashamed. " Don't let evil defeat you. You should defeat evil by doing good. —Romans 12:9-21 (ERV)

You should pray for kings and for all people who have authority (power). Pray for those leaders so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives—lives full of worship and respect for God. —1 Timothy 2:2 (ERV)

Peace and love with faith to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. —Ephesians 6:23 (ERV)