‘Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
Teaching about Revenge
“You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
Teaching about Love for Enemies
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ‘ Matthew 5:37-43(NLT)
‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. ‘ Hebrews 12:1-3(NLT)
Look at Hebrews 12:1: “Let us strip off every weight that is slowing us down.” The verse specifically mentions one kind of weight—“the sin that so easily trips us up.” But there are other kinds of weights and burdens, including relational liabilities.
Every relationship that is not moving you toward purpose is weighing you down. Like, maybe you’re dating somebody who’s insecure and you’re always wasting time trying to explain yourself because your boo thinks you have an ulterior motive. When you try to say something constructive to help them, they think you’re coming at them because you’re jealous of them. But that’s not it at all. Is all this helping either one of you, really?
Who is around you that’s slowing you down?
In Hebrews, this whole idea is set in the scene of footrace in a big stadium, with a finish line at the end of the track. “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
Picture for a minute you on a track. God is saying, “I don’t want anybody coming into your lane to trip you up, because I have a race for you to run and I want you to run it with endurance. If you run this race I’ve called you to run, you’re going to win a prize and you’re going to be satisfied, because what I want to do in your life is better than anything you ever wanted to do in your life. So I need you to trust Me. But there’s something you got to do—you got to get all these weights off you!”
Move out if your roommate is a bad influence. Drop the class if the professor is making you doubt your worth. Move on if your friend continues to stir up drama and gossip. Stay away if your teammate encourages you to lower your standards. And please don’t put up with that boyfriend or girlfriend who hits you. End the relationship now.
What ungodly or unhelpful relationships do you need to put an end to, so that you have room for healthier relationships to take their place?
from Relationship Goals by Pastor Michael Todd