reede, november 05, 2004
Did He Really Mean It?
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ... pray for those who mistreat you.... If someone takes your _____, do not stop him from taking your _____. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that." (Luke 6:27-33)
Both USA East and Finland & Estonian (our home territory and the territory where we are now serving) asked us for a detailed inventory of what was stolen during the burglary. Making this list was almost as painful as discovering the loss in the first place! We just want to forget about it, pretend it never happened.
But of course we can't forget! Tim's goatee grows too long because his beard trimmer was stolen. Chris can't do his biology experiments because his homeschooling microscope was stolen. I can't wear a necklace from my mother which was stolen. We can't access information which was stored on the computers that were stolen.
And then there is trying to figure out what God wants to say to us in all of this.
"If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." What kind of crazy talk is that?! Did Jesus really mean this? Was it just an exaggeration to make a point? Hyperbole?
I wonder if Jesus was ever robbed.
I guess He didn't have a whole lot to steal! And certainly not a house of His own to steal anything from!
Well, we are off to homeschooling co-op. Fortunately for you! So that will have to be enough musing for one morning.
Evelyn
Both USA East and Finland & Estonian (our home territory and the territory where we are now serving) asked us for a detailed inventory of what was stolen during the burglary. Making this list was almost as painful as discovering the loss in the first place! We just want to forget about it, pretend it never happened.
But of course we can't forget! Tim's goatee grows too long because his beard trimmer was stolen. Chris can't do his biology experiments because his homeschooling microscope was stolen. I can't wear a necklace from my mother which was stolen. We can't access information which was stored on the computers that were stolen.
And then there is trying to figure out what God wants to say to us in all of this.
"If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." What kind of crazy talk is that?! Did Jesus really mean this? Was it just an exaggeration to make a point? Hyperbole?
I wonder if Jesus was ever robbed.
I guess He didn't have a whole lot to steal! And certainly not a house of His own to steal anything from!
Well, we are off to homeschooling co-op. Fortunately for you! So that will have to be enough musing for one morning.
Evelyn
