Grace-Filled Responses
Notes
Transcript
How do you respond when wronged? A truck driver stopped at a truck stop and ordered a cheeseburger. As he was ready to eat, a motorcycle gang pulled up. One of the gang members insulted him and ate his cheeseburger. The truck driver walked out out of the truck stop. A gang member said to the waitress, “He's not much of a man, is he?” She said, “He's not much of a driver either. He just backed his 18 wheeler over 6 motorcycles.” Again funny response to being wronged, but not what Jesus wants.
Last week, we talked about retaliation, and that is just first step when dealing with mistreatment. Not only do you that but you give lovingly. Not only do we not retaliate but we also go another level, and try to benefit the people, by giving up our rights to benefit them, not being a pushover Proverbs 25:21–22 “If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the Lord shall reward thee.” You must respond with grace to those who will
How do you respond with Grace?
Give up your rights
If someone were to take your cloak, give them your coat
This has the idea of one suing for retribution.i.e you owe them money, and you cannot pay for it, clothing was alot of times the payment
Now under the law, people were not allowed to sue for the coat, the outer garment, but Jesus here is saying it is better to give up what you are entitled to and give more then required to be at harmony with the person.
Paul says it is better to be defrauded (wronged) than to sue another believer, because it shows up as a bad testimony to unbelievers
Rather than holding onto bitterness, or pride with a friend
Proverbs 19:11 “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”
Serve when it is not inconvient
Go an extra mile if summoned by a Roman solider and carry his stuff
Roman officials and soldiers could go up to a Jewish person who was just going about their day, and force them to drop what they are doing and make them carry their stuff for a mile
Go an extra mile shows the heart of someone who is a Christ follower, because rather than just dropping the stuff at the mile, go further and not do it begrudgingly, but submissively
Serve those who do not deserve it, even if it inconviences you.
But most of us only would care about our time and would just do the bare minimum, but Jesus does not want the focus to be on us but on serving them.
If you are demanded to give, or at work you might have to change things, do not do it with a bad attitude.
Let’s say an adult were to ask you at church to do something, or work asked you. Do not do it begrudingly. Also let’s say that your out to eat with friends
Give to those who ask
Not to support bad habits, but when someone is in need help them
It is to be a better witness and testimony, of loving those who do not deserve your love, or deserve these actions. It also shows that you trust God,
James 2:15–16 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
1 John 3:17–18 “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
Heap coals of fire means that the other person will feel remorse and shame for how they treated you. We never think about that. Only think about the rights we lose.