506 -- Turn and Offer

June 29 (6/29) in Godsfield -- Luke 6:29

(For Better or Verse: Each day in 2025 I will begin this Godsfield e-mail with a Bible verse that corresponds with the month (chapter 1-12) and day (verse 1-31) it is sent. This month features a lot of sixth chapters! Those with eyes and ears, let them see and hear.)

Luke 6:29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

The other person doesn't have to slap you on the other cheek you know, Jesus just tells you to offer it, because it places the trust in the Lord. And only then is there a possibility of a breakthrough of peace.

This is not theoretical, it is practical and it is purposeful. Blessed are the peaceMAKERs, Jesus says, and peace can happen because one refuses to participate. While defuse can happen, peace happens only when the other party wants it, too.

There is no peace -- no shalom, no oneness with our creator -- without Jesus. The fighting can pause, even cease, the threat can hold another at bay, the grumbling can be under one's breath, but that is not peace.

Nothing pleasant about getting slapped, with a hand, with a word, with a shout, with an insulting gesture. But something empowering about not retaliating, but rather by responding, with silence, with a peaceful gesture, with a turning of the cheek.

And that coat thing; it's not about, "sure take my coat; I've got six more; plenty of shirts, too." That's just charity. (Yes, charity is a good thing on its own!) It is about, "You are not entitled to this, but I will not fight you about it; I will trust the Lord to bring you to your senses, to the Lord's senses."

And it's not something I can do for you anyway; your senses are your senses. I can only decide my own actions, and let the Lord direct and the Spirit guide.

Sounds really clean and holy for situations that are only messy. But messy is where the love of God enters, and holy is what God brings to the table.

This is not about nations, not about governments that have laws according to those who are responsible (even when they are not very responsible). God's influence is there; God puts each leader in place for a season, and for a reason.

This is about you, me, and the cheeky way we act toward each other.

Jesus is speaking to each of us, one at a time. He died for all; he died for each. All are not saved, each can be. A cheek is a small price for living in the Lord.

It's not theory, it's theology.

I love ya.

Paul