Turning the Other Cheek: Jesus Series

   Luke 6:29 "When someone hits you on the cheek offer the other as well. When someone takes your coat let him have your shirt too."

   Let's say that you are walking down the street minding your own business when a random person comes up to you and slaps your face. What would you do? Would you stand there in shock? Would you hit the person back?

   This is the situation that Jesus is talking about in Luke 6:29. We are to show love to that person who hit us. We are to show love to the person who takes something from us (that could be something physical like a coat or something intangible like credit for something you did).

   There's a movie that came out many years ago called The Buttercream Gang. In the movie The Buttercream Gang is a gang who does good things for those in the community. One day their leader, Pete, has to move to the city. While in the city, Pete changes. He begins to make bad decisions and falls in with the wrong crowd. That's when he is sent back. When he comes back the Buttercreamers are excited because they think he will join them again. Instead he creates a gang that steals, lies, and cheats. Scott, the new leader of the Buttercream Gang starts to try to fight back. That didn't work, it only made things worse for him and for others. Finally, after Scott got some advice he decides to turn the other cheek. In fact, he even tells Pete he loves him. Pete then threatens to take Scott's bike. He asks Scott if he will still love him then. Scott gives Pete his bike. Pete is astonished as Scott walks away.

   This is a perfect example of turning the other cheek. If someone is stealing from us, we are called to love them. I've heard of stories where people are being stolen from and they give that person whatever they ask for and more. You may be saying, "what if we have to give all of our things away?"

   Matthew 19:16-30 talks about the rich man. He asked Jesus what he should do to gain eternal life. Jesus says to keep the commandments. The rich man said that he has kept them. Then Jesus tells the man to sell all he has and follow him. This story tells us that all of the things of this world don't matter. All of the earthly things are temporary. And, all of the things we have are not ours, they are God's. He gave them to us. Why can't we give to others what God has given to us? That is how we will turn the other cheek, show that we are different, and show the love of God.

   So, have you turned the other cheek when you should? Do you cling to your earthly possessions too much? How can you show God's love today?

   Image from here.