What Jesus Did! 'Taming the Rebel Heart' — Matthew 5:41

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

A Year with Jesus - Holy Week

Spend some time with Jesus this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday.

Read More
[Jesus continued:] "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles."
— Matthew 5:41 NLT

Key Thought

A bitter-hearted rebel lives in many of us. We hate it when someone takes advantage of us. We view the lane-changing, frenzied, aggressive driver as a jerk and sometimes look to get even with him or her. This bitter-hearted rebel also lived in many Jewish hearts. When Roman soldiers imposed on them to carry their equipment, they resented it deeply. Jesus reminds us, however, that his Kingdom family reorders all human relationships. Jesus wants us to ask, "How can I be a redemptive blessing even toward those who mistreat me?" His challenging commands awaken us to our responsibility as God's children. We are to lead others to Jesus, even those others that we don't particularly like. Incredibly, the impetuous Peter learned this lesson and taught the churches in Asia Minor the same principle.* Even more incredibly, the apostle Paul (originally known as Saul) was at first a persecutor of Christians but then became the product of a movement that from its very beginning sought to convert, not condemn, its greatest opponents and oppressors.** But then, the heart of the Kingdom is to follow a King who forgave his persecutors, revilers, and murderers at Passover so they could become his disciples at Pentecost.

* See the first set of Related Scripture Readings below.
** See the last set of Related Scripture Readings.

Today's Prayer

Compassionate Father, please give me the grit and grace to act redemptively in the lives of even those who are irritants, opponents, and problems in my life. Through your Spirit, soften my heart that I might see your goal of winning even the most difficult people in my life to Christ, rather than trying to get even with them. In Jesus' holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • 1 Peter 2:9, 3:15-16
  • Galatians 6:2
  • Acts 2:23, 38, 8:3, 9:2, 27

Comments

Archived Facebook Comments

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Wednesday, March 3, 2021

A daily devotional about God's power for our battles.
"Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants."
A daily devotional featuring a Bible verse, thought and prayer.
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture."
A daily passage of Scripture emphasizing praise to our God.
"Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose lives will end as dust. Our children will also serve him......"
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
"Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft....."

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 5:41 NLT — [Jesus continued:] "If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles."

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.