Tag Archives: joy

As we look at the particulars of Jesus’ Second Mile instruction in Matthew 5, it’s fascinating to see the three facets of wrong-doing that He addresses in three short sentences. First of all He speaks of the slap. This isn’t an impersonal injustice. This is the up-close and personal wound of a friend. You can see the whites of their eyes. A slap is a sign of contempt, from someone you trusted enough to be within arm’s reach. In this episode we look at why the slap stings, drawing from Psalm 55 and the experience of the mighty King David. Read More

Turning the cheek, offering the shirt off your back, and slogging along a forced-mile sounds miserable. And as long as we’re in that “have-to” mindset, it is miserable. But that’s just it—the secret of the Second Mile is that you break the back of unfair compulsion with the power of voluntary generosity. It’s a completely upside-down counter-attack of kindness that frees you from that miserable victim-feeling and turns you into a victorious fighter for the cause of Christ. Come along as we contemplate what’s really at stake here, and how we can—even today—turn the tables and find the joy of freely following Jesus. Read More