JUNE 8, Matthew 5:38-42

Jesus teaches us two things here. Don’t take revenge and make every effort to do good. All our natural instincts say otherwise. When someone hits us, we hit back. Doing good must be kept at our convenience, and not create too much trouble. In fact, to do what Jesus is telling us seems out of reach! Won’t the world see us as pushovers? Won’t people laugh and take advantage of us? When we think this way, the truth is we are putting self first. We want to protect our name and our rights, but not the name of Christ. We want to make sure we don’t lose to others, but in the process our Christian testimony is lost. Then what’s the point?

To suffer loss is not to hit back when injustice is done against us. Children are quick to fight back. This is not what Christ would have us do. Even if we suffer personal injury or loss of our possessions, He tells us not to retaliate. We are to bear it patiently and leave it to God to judge and punish the offender. Of course, it is not to say you allow yourself to be bullied to no end. You should report the case to teachers or parents to discipline the person. But don’t take matters into your own hands and take revenge. Or else what difference is there? Can people see the love and mercies of Christ in your life? As long as the offence is personal, let’s learn from Christ who endured all kinds of injustice for our sake. People will see that our faith is real, and the difference is Christ.

To make every effort to do good is to help someone even at our own inconvenience. It’s easy to help someone if it’s comfortable for us. Maybe your friend asks you to help her with her homework during school hours. But going the extra mile means to offer to continue helping her beyond school hours. Going out of your way to help someone will take a lot more time and effort. It will be at the expense of your own convenience and probably disrupt your routine. But when someone approaches you for help, recognise that God is giving you the opportunity to show him Christ’s love. Don’t brush him away. Make every effort to do good!

Think of one person that you would like to help this week.

How can you go the extra mile for him/her?

Thought: Suffering loss and doing good are practical ways to show Christ in our lives.

Prayer: Father in heaven, I pray that my life may reflect the love of Christ. Help me to show compassion and kindness to others, that the name of Christ may be lifted up for all to see. In Jesus’ name, Amen