OUR DAILY BREAD : ENDING ESCALATION

[cimi]

February 10
Sunday


ENDING
ESCALATION

READ:
Matthew 5:38-48
________________________________

I tell you not to resist
an evil person. But
whoever slaps you on
your right cheek, turn
the other to him also.
__Matthew 5:39
________________________________

The pastor of an inner-city church told his congregation: "Some people believe in 'an eye for an eye.' But in this neighborhood, it's two eyes for an eye. You can never even the score; you can only raise the stakes." The people nodded in solemn understanding of the reality they faced each day.

We've seen it happen on a school playground or in our own homes--a child bumps into another during a game. The one who was bumped pushes back, and the shoving quickly grows into a fight. It's the process of retaliation and escalation in which each act of revenge exceeds the one that provoked it.

In Matthew 5, Jesus tackled a number of key relational issues by raising the standard to the one that pleases God: "You have heard that it was said....But I tell you..." (vv.38-39). His words about turning the other cheek, going the second mile, and giving to those who ask may sound as radical and unrealistic to us as they did to those who first heard them (vv.38-42). Are we willing to ponder and pray about His teaching? Are we ready to apply it when we are wronged at home, at work, or at school?

The cycle of escalation can be broken when a courageous, faith-filled person refuses to strike back. __David McCasland
_____________________________________________________________

`````````````````````Lord, help me not retaliate``````````````````
`````````````````When someone wants to pick a fight;`````````````
````````````````Instead, give me the strength and faith`````````````
`````````````To show Your love and do what's right. __Sper`````````
_____________________________________________________________

To return good for good is natural;
to return good for evil is supernatural.

***************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 5:38-48***********

38 You have heard that it
was said, "An eye for an
eye and a tooth for a tooth."

39 But I tell you not to resist
and evil person. But whoever
slaps you on your right
cheek, turn the other to him
also. 40 If anyone wants to
sue you and take away your
tunic, let him have your
cloak also. 41 And whoever
compels you to go one
mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks
you, and from him who
wants to borrow from you
do not turn away.

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,
bless those who curse you,
do good to those who hate
you, and pray for those who
spitefully use you and
persecute you, 45 that you
may be sons of your Father
in heaven; for He makes
His sun rise on the evil and
on the good, and sends rain
on the just and on the
unjust. 46 For if you love
those who love you, what
reward have you? Do not
even the tax collectors do
the same? 47 And if you
greet your brethren only,
what do you do more than
others? Do not even the
tax collectors do so?

48 Therefore you shall be
perfect, just as your Father
in heaven is perfect.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's Bible reading is part of Christ's first extended public
message, the "Sermon on the Mount," found in Matthew 5-7. This
section is notable by Christ's contrast of "You have heard" with
"But I tell you." In this way, He is calling His followers to a higher
standard of conduct--one based on living out the self-sacrificing
example of Christ in the world. __WEVC