Seriously???

^{Matthew 5: 38} “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

There are many times the Bible speaks needing a spiritually discerning ear in order to grasp what it is saying to us. And other times, it appears to be quite literal and straightforward so that any one with an inkling of comprehension will "get it".... Unfortunately my comprehension was low in times past when it came to this verse, and now being more mature, I know it was because my pride was high!

In this passage, Jesus speaks some words that have jammed Christians for centuries. And following this up is the well-know "Love your enemies" verse that calls for further humility. So, I can say with surety that the Lord was speaking very literally and very specifically about what was expected from those who had "an ear to hear".

Check out the verbiage He uses, that gets us confused:

• "If anyone slaps you....." - That right there is enough to get us started on the wrong road! Just the very thought of someone slapping us, brings enough pride to the surface to have us in a jail cell by the day's end. But the Lord doesn't stop there...
• "And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt..." -We would go and get Johnnie Cochran (if he was still here) to keep our $20 shirt, just because it is OURS. Because it's not about the money, it's about (say it with me now)... the principle. Right... principle = justification for pride in this case!
• " If anyone forces you to go one mile..." -Then I'm going to try to talk my way out of it, slide from under it, test the "force quotient" to see if I can indeed be forced, etc. And then I'm going to count a mile exactly... not an inch more. Tell me you do it cheerfully, when you are being forced and I shall call you fake!
• "Give to the one who asks you...." -  This is where we believe that Jesus must have been short on time or been sleepy or something because He totally forgot the conditions. You know... if they don't ask for too much, or they don't ask for the wrong things, or if they have a plan to repay... all of the conditions of the loan. Oh wait, this isn't a loan... this is for keeps. Well, that changes things right? They have to ask for even less and even more of the things they desire is off limits, correct?

Ok, these things are hard... these things are not natural, but you know what is not natural? Our pride! It is of the devil, his first offense, his nature! The things here are directly opposite from what we want to do, how we want to feel, but He says them, because they are possible.... through Him!

Are these things just hard for me or does anyone out there feel it too... Let's chop it up. Share somethings that help you get over those prideful moments... or things to avoid. One of my motivators is that having children makes me more careful because I know they are watching me. O.O  I try to show forth Christ to them because I know they will try to handle struggle similar to the way they see me handle it. What about you?