Ssch_110612.doc
Practice: This will be a new series for June 2011, focusing on putting into practice what Jesus taught.
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June |
Description |
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Learning Jesus’ commands. |
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When the Going Gets Tough. |
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Overcoming To Victory. |
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Passing Jesus’ Love On To Others. |
Week 2 - Loving Those Who Do Not Love You. – What’s it mean?
From Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount:
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 say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 “And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
41 “And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Most people consider games to be normal. What is a prime element of games? C _ _ P _ _ _ T _ _ N When does it turn into a fight?
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Next, how often do we see people taking revenge on others?
Write down two ways people say they are going to take revenge:
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Let’s pretend: Let’s say someone at school named Sam takes his pen and scribbles on the cover of your friend Frank’s notebook.
Suppose Frank takes a permanent marker and scribbles on Sam’s notebook. Sam takes a sharpie and scribbles all over Frank’s gym bag. Frank takes a swing and punches Sam in the nose. Sam fights back. Frank and Sam both go to the principal’s office, then the nurse, then to detention. In the principal’s office, Sam claims Frank took a sharpie to his notebook. The principal likely has to spend time out of his busy day discovering the truth. Next, if they’re fortunate, the police are NOT called, but their parents will be. Now the parents might or might not make peace with one another. Depending on how the parents teach their kids, the parents might become angry at one another. How did it all start?
When someone chooses to NOT love their neighbor, but do something inconsiderate or downright mean to their neighbor, revenge is a possible choice in response. So, let’s look at those choices. Even if Sam and Frank did not live next door to each other, let’s say Frank did NOT take revenge? How could that have turned out better?
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Unfortunately, society is getting more and more used to accepting fights and revenge as normal. Unfortunately, do you see how fights and revenge go in exactly the OPPOSITE direction of the teachings and the life example of Jesus Christ?
Let’s take a look at what Jesus says next:
Matthew 5:43-48
43 “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’
44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you
45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?
47 “And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Now, being called to be perfect in itself might seem like a tall order / too difficult for us to fulfill. However, I strongly believe Jesus would not have said to be perfect if it were not possible.
Let’s get a little perspective by looking back at some of what Jesus said previously.
Matthew 5:
1 And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came up to Him.
2 And opening His mouth, He began to teach them, saying,
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
12 “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Can we love our enemies? YES.
Can we pray for those who persecute us? YES.
Could loving our enemies be painful? MAYBE.
How much was Jesus hurt? A LOT.
However, look how God the Father brought back Jesus from the dead: See Matthew 28:9-10; for more detail, see Luke 24:36-43.
In what ways can we love our enemies? Go back to verse 44.
Also see Matthew 18:22 below:
Matthew 18:
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Okay, let’s see how we could start keeping count. Let’s pretend; what if you said, “I’m going to forgive my brother only 7 times, then after that I don’t have to forgive him anymore … I’ve forgiven him 5 times … 6 times, only one more …” In contrast, what does it look like to see the heart of the person who forgives 70 times 7 times? How much is 70 multiplied times 7? ______. Remember the phrase, ‘Practice makes perfect’? By the time you’ve forgiven that many times, do you think you should stop?
You may not change the other person you forgive, but YOU can have abundant peace in YOUR heart from practicing forgiveness the way Jesus Christ taught it.