Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:40
Jesus came to radically change everyone’s life, so it’s no surprise that His Truth is radical compared to what this lost world teaches. So that there is no misunderstanding about yesterday’s devotion, Jesus was not teaching that His followers would never stand against evil. Jesus gave us a perfect example when He overturned the tables in the Temple courtyard because what the religious leaders were doing was not worshiping our Lord, but they were robbing the people by re-selling lambs for sacrifice and filling their pockets with the excess money. What Jesus said in Matthew 5:39 ties into 1 Peter 2:19–20, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.” When we suffer persecution because we’re living for our Lord Jesus Christ, we should never seek revenge or retaliation. We must entrust our lives to our Lord, knowing He suffered for us. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:40, “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.” According to God’s Law (Exodus 22:26; Deuteronomy 24:13), the outer cloak was always to be given back to the person who owned it. Jesus said to give it away. We trust our Lord to meet our needs as He sees fit.
Challenge & Application
· Though we receive insults or other persecutions, we must honor our Lord in how we react to them; so, what would that look like?
· How do you prepare for your day knowing that you could suffer unjustly and that you must not retaliate?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!