Shocking! Have you ever heard a more "can you believe this?" sermon that the one in today's reading (Matthew 5:27-42)? Sin is painted so black and utterly evil that we're better getting drastic (ripping out an eye?) than letting it continue. And our good "enlightened" morals (give back no more than what an offender deserves) don't hold a candle to God's system - where mercy triumphs.
So how do we "not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles"? I mean this is really living generously! It is certainly living in the kind of light that people notice - and God gets the glory. Because the bottom line is that I can't do it. I can't do it, but Jesus can through me. And this kind of returning good for evil is the great victory.
It is in James where we see that wonderful phrase - Mercy Triumphs (James 2:13). Want to be a winner? Try mercy today.
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