10/30- Turning the Cheek

10/30- Thursday 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

 Bonhoeffer: “In confession occurs the break-through to the Cross.  The root of all sin is pride: ‘I want to be my own law, I have a right to my self, my hatred and my desires, my life and my death…Jesus Christ was not ashamed to be crucified for us as an evildoer.  It is nothing else but our fellowship with Jesus Christ that leads us to the ignominious dying that comes in confession, in order that we may in truth share in his Cross.  The Cross of Jesus Christ destroys all pride.”

Thoughts: The Bible at one point speaks of fairness- “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”  This command was given so that we do not take revenge too far- “two eyes for one eye or a life for a tooth.”  As someone said, “The problem with this idea of fairness is that we will all end up blind and toothless.”  Fairness is good, but forgiveness is best.  The turning of the other cheek is found in these verses in 1 Peter.   When we are degraded or cut down by another, let us seek to encourage.  This is harder than it looks on the surface.  There are always bullies.  Bullies in a place of authority or who use their office to put down others is hard to swallow.  For Christians, this is not just a good idea.  It is a hope.  God sees us when others persecute us or torture us and He rewards those who are a blessing in the face of such torment.  This does not just involve some kind of selfish idea of reward- but it involves the idea that in the end good will win.  It takes this confidence and faith to really consistently turn the other cheek.  The confidence that good will win is not just wishful or positive thinking – it is a tenure of faith in a good God who created all goodness and will bless those who are a blessing.   

Prayer:  Give me confidence in you, Lord, that I may have the grace to repay evil with good today.