Class Lesson February 21, 2016

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

 

Some of us live according to “to-do” lists. Time management folks tell us these are a great way to keep track of and prioritize the things we need to accomplish. The blessing of such a “to-do” list is that you have a target to shoot for. The curse of a “to-do” list is that it can remind you of what you didn’t get accomplished—or what remains to be finished.

Unfinished “to-do” lists happen a lot. That’s not because the tasks weren’t important. It’s because things pop up every day you simply didn’t anticipate.


Interruptions.

We can’t stop the interruptions or demands other people make in our lives. But how we react to those interruptions is completely in our hands. Jesus is concerned about our reactions. Why? Because the ways we react in irritating situations will—or won’t—show us to be distinctly Christian. Jesus calls us to a standard that is consistent, honest, and filled with grace. 

Jesus’ theme of greater righteousness continues.

In the remaining examples, Jesus addressed subjects not specifically covered by one of the Ten Commandments, even though they are found in the Old Testament law. He continued to call attention to traditional understandings and confronted His hearers with His new and fresh perspectives. His word is not always easy, but it is the way people in the kingdom of God act. Such is the righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Matthew 5:33-42 (NIV)

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’

39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.



His footstool (v. 35)—When used literally, this term refers to an actual footstool (see Jas. 2:3). Here, the term is used figuratively—God has no need of a place to rest His feet. Thus, it represents the earth’s complete submission to God.



Swear by your head (v. 36)—It was a custom to guarantee the truthfulness of a statement by swearing or taking an oath by invoking God or some substitute for God; here, “your head” is that substitute.

Matthew 5:33-37

We’ve all felt the pain of a broken commitment or word. And we’ve all had our own share of failed commitments to others. It hurts in both directions. As we continue with the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus pushing us to examine our integrity through the lens of our words and the promises we make.


The Old Testament law repeatedly commanded people to keep their word and be absolutely truthful (see Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21-23). But by the time of Jesus, people were making distinctions in their promises and oaths: some were super serious, others were not so serious.


If someone made a promise using God’s name, he was bringing God into the promise; thus, it became a serious promise he must keep. But if someone simply gave her own word on a matter, it was considered much less serious. Jesus made the point that God is always involved when a person gives his or her word.


Whenever we make a promise, we are doing so in the presence of God.


Here are two things worth remembering:

• Be careful what you commit to. Many of us have a tendency to over commit ourselves. We may have the best of intentions, but at some point we have to develop the discipline of saying no. 

• Keep your word when you give it. God honors the person “who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind” (Ps. 15:4). Unforeseen circumstances can pop up that make it difficult to keep some promises. Even when it hurts to do so, however, the one who keeps his promises pleases God.

Matthew 5:38-39

The Old Testament records this “eye for an eye” law three times (see Ex. 21:23-24; Lev. 24:19-20; Deut. 19:21). But God’s intention was to limit vengeance, not give license to it. The law was meant to make sure that conflict didn’t escalate, but was kept within specific boundaries.


Furthermore, the wronged individual was never to seek justice or vengeance on his own. Instead, the law served as a guide for judges as they decided appropriate punishments through court proceedings.


Jesus, however, reordered our thinking. He told us we are not to retaliate when we are humiliated or insulted.


Because we’re born with the inclination of self-defense and retaliation, we are fighting against our sinful human nature when we follow Jesus in this distinct way. In other words, we must choose to deny ourselves in order to obey Jesus’ commands.

• We deny our rights. People usually believe they have something coming to them when we they’re wronged. Yet Jesus called us to deny our “rights.” We are to follow Him on the road of forgiveness and self-denial.

• We deny our entitlement. Closely akin to our rights is a sense of entitlement. Something rises up inside us that says, “I deserve better.” But any feeling of entitlement fails to recognize that all we are truly entitled to is death and hell. We experience God’s mercy and forgiveness because of His grace, not because we are entitled to them.

• We deny our pride. Often the worst part of what we experience at the hand of someone else is the blow to our ego. We feel humiliated and our pride is offended. We must let go of our inflated ego and release our pride in favor of following Jesus on the path of humility (see Phil. 2:5-8).

Matthew 5:40-42

As if it weren’t enough to say we should not seek revenge when someone does us wrong, Jesus went the extra mile in His teaching. He said we should do the same thing—go the extra mile—even for those who want to take advantage of us. According to Jesus, we should overwhelm such people with kindness.


We tend to think about obedience in terms of minimums. What’s the minimum amount of stuff I have to do to get by? That kind of attitude shows a heart out of touch with the grace God has lavished on us. Jesus’ point is that we shouldn’t focus on the minimum; instead, we should focus on how we can be a blessing to others.


To go the extra mile—above and beyond—takes more than willpower. It takes faith. We need to believe three things to go the extra mile:

• Believe God will provide. Going the extra mile is costly. It could be a coat; it could be some money; it could be our time. It will cost us something. We must believe in a God who will provide the coat, the money, or the time that we’ve given up for the sake of someone else.

• Believe God will rectify. When we give sacrificially for the sake of someone else, we might be tempted to treat it like a loan. We shouldn’t. Much in the same way that we don’t seek revenge because we believe God will set everything right in the end, we can freely go the extra mile without the expectation of payback. Trust in God, who knows what we’ve done. 

• Believe God will redeem. What if we go the extra mile and nothing happens? What if the person doesn’t recognize our gift or what it cost us? We might be tempted to become bitter and resentful, or to wish we never made the effort in the first place. But God redeems. Though it might seem like a waste at first, we trust God in His wisdom and power to redeem what we’ve done for His good purposes.

LIVE IT OUT

You’re going to be caught off guard this week; how will you respond? Here are some ways to be distinct in your reactions: 

•  Keep your word. What is one commitment you’ve made that you wish you hadn’t? Recommit yourself to keeping your word even though it’s going to hurt.

• Pray. Is one relationship particularly difficult for you right now? Pray and ask God to bless that person this week. Even better, write a note and let the person know you’ve been praying for him or her. 

• Go the extra mile. Think back over the past month. Have you missed any opportunities to do good for someone, an occasion when you chose to do the minimum? Go back and do something extra for that person this week.

Life is about reactions. Things will happen this week you have absolutely no control over, no matter how well you plan. The question is: what happens next? Will you practice grace and integrity when others make demands of you? Or will you hold tightly to your rights and privileges?




Our Lesson Today:

In 1982, the movie “First Blood” came to theaters. It was about a Vietnam War veteran named Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, who had become a drifter. He had come to a small town in the Northwest looking for an old army buddy. No one welcomed him. The town sheriff immediately treated him with suspicion and disdain and tried to kick him out of town. Because Rambo refused to go, he was arrested, beaten and humiliated. From that point on, Rambo took on his former persona and used his many and varied skills gained in the military to evade capture and eventually defeat the sheriff. When Rambo is contacted by his former CO to find out why he had started this one man war, he says, “All I wanted was something to eat. But the man kept pushing Sir. … They drew first blood, not me.” Some of you know a little bit of what Rambo felt. Everybody keeps pushing. It’s so easy to push back when you get pushed. It’s just the natural inclination.


Isaac Newton gave us this scientific principle: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That law works for science, but it is only partially true with people. Everything said or done to us will cause us to react, but how we react is totally in our hands.


Jesus calls us to a standard that is consistent, honest, and grace-filled regardless of what is said or done.



Jesus’ theme of greater righteousness continues.

• In the remaining examples, Jesus addressed subjects not specifically covered by one of the Ten Commandments, even though they are found in the Old Testament law. He continued to call attention to traditional understandings and confronted His hearers with His new and fresh perspectives. His word is not always easy, but it is the way people in the kingdom of God act. Such is the righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. 

• In Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus told his hearers to react distinctively. He stated the oldest law in the world, Lex Talionis, “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” It was a common practice and a part of everyday life. It was stained with the blood of revenge and vengeance. Jesus now sought to abolish that law with a reaction so radical that it was totally unexpected. He painted three portraits to get the message across. 

 

 
 

I. Speak with Integrity - Matthew 5:33-37
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.


What motivates us to say, “I promise” or to ask, “Do you promise?”

• We’ve all felt the pain of a broken commitment or word. And we’ve all had our own share of failed commitments to others. It hurts in both directions. As we continue with the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus pushing us to examine our integrity through the lens of our words and the promises we make. The Old Testament law repeatedly commanded people to keep their word and be absolutely truthful (see Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21-23). But by the time of Jesus, people were making distinctions in their promises and oaths: some were super serious, others were not so serious. If someone made a promise using God’s name, he was bringing God into the promise; thus, it became a serious promise he must keep. But if someone simply gave her own word on a matter, it was considered much less serious. Jesus made the point that God is always involved when a person gives his or her word. Whenever we make a promise, we are doing so in the presence of God.

So, what is the big deal about making a promise?

• There are about 30 biblical references to vows, most of which are from the Old Testament. The books of Leviticus and Numbers have several references to vows in relation to offerings and sacrifices. There were dire consequences for the Israelites who made and broke vows, especially vows to God.
• The story of Jephthah illustrates the foolishness of making vows without understanding the consequences. Before leading the Israelites into battle against the Ammonites, Jephthah—described as a mighty man of valor—made a rash vow that he would give to the Lord whoever first came out of doors to meet him if he returned home as the victor. When the Lord granted him victory, the one who came out to meet him was his daughter. Jephthah remembered his vow and offered her to the Lord (Judges 11:29-40). Whether or not Jephthah should have kept this vow is dealt with in another article. What this account shows us is the foolishness of rash vows.
• Perhaps this is why Jesus gave a new commandment concerning vows. "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No ,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (Matthew 5:33-37).
• The principle here is clear for Christians: do not make vows, either to the Lord or to one another. First, we are unable to know for sure whether we will be able to keep vows. The fact that we are prone to the errors in judgment which are part of our fallen nature means that we may make vows foolishly or out of immaturity. Further, we don’t know what the future will bring—only God does. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:14), so to make a vow that we will do or not do something is foolish. God is the one in control, not us, and He “works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Knowing this, we can see that it is unnecessary to make vows and that it indicates a lack of trust in Him. Finally, Jesus commands that our word be sufficient without making vows. When we say “yes” or “no,” that’s exactly what we should mean. Adding vows or oaths to our words opens us up to the influence of Satan whose desire is to trap us and compromise our Christian testimony.
• If we have made a vow foolishly and realized we cannot or should not keep it, we should confess it to God, knowing that He is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” A broken vow, while serious, is not an unforgivable matter if taken to the Lord in true confession. God will not hold us to vows made imprudently, but He expects us to obey Jesus and refrain from making vows in the future.
• Christians should not make promises at all. It doesn’t matter if it’s to God, our friends, or our children. Sometimes people make promises and they can’t deliver or sometimes people just don’t want to when the time comes. How does that glorify God? You don’t know how your life will be tomorrow.
• You don’t know if you’re going to be able to keep your word. God will always be here for you. If you’re going to do something just do it. If you can’t then don’t. Don’t speak foolishly with your mouth. God is serious when it comes to vows to him or others. If you foolishly make a promise than you need to do what you said you would do. In the future do not make promises at all. If you have made one and you can’t keep it confess your sins and don’t do it again. 

 

 

1. Ecclesiastes 5:5 It is better not to make a promise than to make one and not keep it.

2. Proverbs 10:19 Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.

3. Ecclesiastes 5:6 Don’t let your mouth make you sin. And don’t defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.

4. Matthew 5:33-36 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

5. Ecclesiastes 5:2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

6. Proverbs 20:25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

7. Ecclesiastes 5:4 When you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him.

8. Proverbs 19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.


Yes or no

9. James 5:12 But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

10. Matthew 5:38 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.


What was Jesus’ point concerning our speech?

• Jesus expects His followers to do what they say. We ought to be known for telling the truth, without a shadow of doubt.
• Jesus was emphasizing the importance of telling the truth. People were breaking promises and using sacred language casually and carelessly. Keeping oaths and promises is important; it builds trust and makes committed human relationships possible. The Bible condemns making vows or taking oaths casually, giving your word while knowing that you won’t keep it, or swearing falsely in God’s name (Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12; Numbers 30:1, 2; Deuteronomy 19:16-20). Oaths are needed in certain situations only because we live in a sinful society that breeds distrust.
• Oaths, or vows were common, but Jesus told His followers not to use them – their word alone should be enough (see James 5:12). Are you known as a person of your word? Truthfulness seems so rare that we feel we must end our statements with “I promise.” If we tell the truth all the time, we will have less pressure to back up our words with an oath or promise. 

 

 

II. Let it Go - Matthew 5:38-39
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

  

What traditional understanding did Jesus confront in these verses?

• An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Believers and unbelievers alike who are looking to justify some vengeful action can be heard to recite these words.
• Actually, this is only a portion of larger statements found in Exodus 21:24 and Deuteronomy 19:21. Known as the lex talionis – law of retaliation – it was not intended to be an authorization for vengeance without restraint but to put a limit on the degree of retaliation as applied by the legal authorities. The statement was part of a guideline for proportionate punishment in which the punishment fit the crime as opposed to a process marked by escalating violence. It was not intended to be a license for personal retaliation but was to be practiced by the courts and judges within the confines of the legal system.

What does Jesus mean when He says do not resist an evil person?

• Resist is to “set one’s self against” or “to oppose.”
• Some thought Jesus’ words were to be understood to mean, “Don’t resist evil with evil.” One evil act never cancels out another evil act. Still others think Jesus was forbidding ever taking an action to resist an evildoer.

Was Jesus calling us to be “passive” and is this a command against self-defense?

• What Jesus asks of His followers is not passivity, but surrender of the right to personal revenge.
• To "turn the other cheek," does not imply pacifism, nor does it mean we place ourselves or others in mortal danger. Like the principle of the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth in Matthew 5:38, turning the other cheek refers to personal retaliation, not criminal offenses or acts of military aggression. Clearly, Jesus did not mean to negate all God’s laws and injunctions protecting us against violent crime or invading armies. Rather, Jesus is speaking here of the principle of non-retaliation to affronts against our own dignity, as well as lawsuits to gain one’s personal assets (v. 40), infringements on one’s liberty (v. 41), and violations of property rights (v. 42). He was calling for a full surrender of all personal rights.
• Turning the other cheek means not to return insult for insult in retaliation, which is what most people expect and how worldly people act. Responding to hatred with love just might grab someone's attention and afford us a chance to share the gospel. When we respond in a manner that is unnatural, it displays the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus was the perfect example because He was silent before His accusers and did not call down revenge from heaven on those who crucified Him.

What was God’s intention with this new law?

• Let it go! God’s purpose behind this law was an expression of mercy. The law was given to judges and said, in effect, “Make the punishment fit the crime.” It was not a guide for personal revenge (Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:19-20; Deuteronomy 19:21). These laws were given to limit revenge and help the court administer punishment that was neither too strict nor too lenient. Some people, however, were using this phrase to justify their vendettas against others. People still try to excuse their acts of revenge by saying, “I was just doing to him what he did to me.”
• God’s intention was to limit vengeance, not give license to it. The law was meant to make sure that conflict didn’t escalate, but was kept within specific boundaries.
• Furthermore, the wronged individual was never to seek justice or vengeance on his own. Instead, the law served as a guide for judges as they decided appropriate punishments through court proceedings.
• Jesus, however, reordered our thinking. He told us we are not to retaliate when we are humiliated or insulted.

Because we’re born with the inclination of self-defense and retaliation, we are fighting against our sinful human nature when we follow Jesus in this distinct way. In other words, we must choose to deny ourselves in order to obey Jesus’ commands.

• Deny our rights. People usually believe they have something coming to them when we they’re wronged. Yet Jesus called us to deny our “rights.” We are to follow Him on the road of forgiveness and self-denial.
• Deny our entitlement. Closely akin to our rights is a sense of entitlement. Something rises up inside us that says, “I deserve better.” But any feeling of entitlement fails to recognize that all we are truly entitled to is death and hell. We experience God’s mercy and forgiveness because of His grace, not because we are entitled to them.
• Deny our pride. Often the worst part of what we experience at the hand of someone else is the blow to our ego. We feel humiliated and our pride is offended. We must let go of our inflated ego and release our pride in favor of following Jesus on the path of humility (see Phil. 2:5-8).

III. Go the Extra Mile - Matthew 5:40-42
40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

What is Jesus asking us to do now after we have turned the other cheek?

• Go the extra mile! Show them unexpected kindness in return. These verses give three remaining examples of Jesus’ call for His followers not to refuse to retaliate or inflict evil for evil against those who insulted them or disregarded their personal rights. Be willing to do more than is expected with a willing spirit rather than a bitter attitude.
• When we are wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score, but to love and forgive. This is not natural – it is supernatural. Only God can give us the strength to love as He does. instead of planning vengeance, pray for those who hurt you.

Why is this so hard for us to do?

• We tend to think about obedience in terms of minimums. What’s the minimum amount of stuff I have to do to get by? That kind of attitude shows a heart out of touch with the grace God has lavished on us. Jesus’ point is that we shouldn’t focus on the minimum; instead, we should focus on how we can be a blessing to others.

To go the extra mile—above and beyond—takes more than willpower. It takes faith. We need to believe three things to go the extra mile:

• Believe God will provide. Going the extra mile is costly. It could be a coat; it could be some money; it could be our time. It will cost us something. We must believe in a God who will provide the coat, the money, or the time that we’ve given up for the sake of someone else.
• Believe God will rectify. When we give sacrificially for the sake of someone else, we might be tempted to treat it like a loan. We shouldn’t. Much in the same way that we don’t seek revenge because we believe God will set everything right in the end, we can freely go the extra mile without the expectation of payback. Trust in God, who knows what we’ve done.
• Believe God will redeem. What if we go the extra mile and nothing happens? What if the person doesn’t recognize our gift or what it cost us? We might be tempted to become bitter and resentful, or to wish we never made the effort in the first place. But God redeems. Though it might seem like a waste at first, we trust God in His wisdom and power to redeem what we’ve done for His good purposes.

What is so special about going the extra mile?

• Going the second mile is an unexpected service of love. True Christian love is never expressed in the first mile. That is expected. That is obligatory and mandatory. We must do that. Christian love is always expressed in the second mile. Loving and serving beyond what is expected.
• An amazing power exists in unexpected service. When we exceed the barest minimums of service, when we go beyond the call of duty, when we give more than is expected, it has a transforming, unforgettable effect on people. 

 

 

Integrity, grace, and kindness

What powerful words!

Integrity is the quality of being complete, undivided, and transparent. A person has integrity when what he or she says or does is consistent with what he or she claims to be and to believe. The people we respect the most are people with integrity.


Grace is the willingness to show favor to someone even when they are not deserving. A person insults you. He deserves some retaliatory action at least equal to the insult. To respond with grace is to refuse to retaliate and to be gracious in hope that a relationship can be restored.


Kindness is being disposed to be helpful, forbearing, gentle, and agreeable. A kind person thinks less about himself and more about another person.



Jesus was calling for His disciples to exhibit each of those qualities, even under the most difficult or trying circumstances. However, He not only demanded them from others, He modeled them in His own life and in His own relationships with others.

• Did anyone have greater integrity than Jesus? He was who He claimed to be and stayed true to His calling as God’s Son even when others rejected Him.
• Was anyone more filled with grace? In fact, He was the embodiment of divine grace in that He came to extend God’s favor on a world that deserved punishment but received salvation instead by Jesus’ gracious atoning death.
• Was anyone more kind than Jesus? Repeatedly, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus acted kindly toward those who were hurting, dealing with loss, and disenfranchised. He was even kind in His responses to the likes of Pilate and Herod who falsely judged Him, and to the Roman soldiers who ridiculed, abused, and executed Him. He did not retaliate, argue, or complain. In fact, even then He responded with the same kind of integrity, grace, and kindness He expected from His disciples.

If we want to have more integrity, grace, and kindness, we need to walk more closely with Jesus.


Conclusion: “First Blood” is the kind of movie that makes you want to stand up and cheer. It hits a chord with every person that has ever been pushed around. With every person that Rambo pummels, we see ourselves getting back at the people who have so unfairly treated us. It’s normal to push back when we are pushed. But Jesus calls us to something higher, and Jesus gives us an example of something more majestic.


He who could have pushed the hardest when pushed, chose to exercise grace and forgiveness. He calls us to nothing less.



LIVE IT OUT
You’re going to be caught off guard this week; how will you respond? Here are some ways to be distinct in your reactions:

• Keep your word. What is one commitment you’ve made that you wish you hadn’t? Recommit yourself to keeping your word even though it’s going to hurt.
• Pray. Is one relationship particularly difficult for you right now? Pray and ask God to bless that person this week. Even better, write a note and let the person know you’ve been praying for him or her.
• Go the extra mile. Think back over the past month. Have you missed any opportunities to do good for someone, an occasion when you chose to do the minimum? Go back and do something extra for that person this week.

Life is about reactions. Things will happen this week you have absolutely no control over, no matter how well you plan. The question is: what happens next? Will you practice grace and integrity when others make demands of you? Or will you hold tightly to your rights and privileges?

Prayer of Commitment

Lord Jesus, sometimes living according to Your expectations is hard. I want to be a person marked by integrity, grace, and kindness. You know I cannot do it on my own, so I turn to You for help and strength that I may be more like You. Thank you for being there. Amen.

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See you on Sunday!


In His Love,


David & Susan