This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus— it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “Do your duty,” but is, in effect, “Do what is not your duty.” It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, “Oh well, I just can’t do any more, and I’ve been so misrepresented and misunderstood.” Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling “up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” ( Colossians 1:24 ). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord’s honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.

Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is— Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 14, 2010

Sometimes I wonder why I do the things I do. I mean I am a Christian aren’t I? Then why can I be on the mountaintop one minute and then in the valley the next minute, having failed miserably at being a Christian? Why is it that I do some of the same stupid things over and over again? Where is my maturity, my growth as a believer?

And God says…….  ”Just like you wrote in your book, being a believer has no hierarchy of attainment. You do not start out in 1^st grade and matriculate up the “Christian scale” of growth to high school and then college. You do not enter into My service as a private and then progress to corporal and then on and on and up to Captain Christian and beyond. You enter in need of a Savior and continue to need a Savior the rest of your days.

You can only operate as a believer with the strength, power and courage of Jesus when you allow Jesus to live through you. You are a human being with all the weakness of a human being. When you are not connected to Me allowing the Spirit of God to live through you, you are vulnerable. This does not mean you are not responsible, it simply means you are responsible for doing your part by allowing Me to live through you. I will do everything else. You can do nothing apart from Me.

Stay connected to Me and stay holy even as I am holy.