Choices!

Choices!

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 KJV 

I take a look at the words that come before the 'BUT' in today's extract, and it is clear that God calls me into a different lifestyle from what is popular in the generation He has put me in. It does not matter what the world around me applauds; I am called into a different standard and a different set of choices. Everyone around me may do things in a certain way; the call of God upon my life demands that I live by a different standard. Is there a call on your own life? 

So, who is the 'YOU' that Jesus addresses here? Let's not forget: this was the Sermon on the Mount, where there was a huge crowd following Jesus, yet He called the disciples to Himself on a mountain, and having sat down, began to teach them, with today's extract being a part of that sermon. So, today's extract is not for the crowd at the foot of the mountain, but for all who want to go up the mountain to sit with Jesus, listen to and obey Him. The crowd seeks popular culture; disciples seek obedience, even when it hurts. Which one are you? So I check my present location; am I where applause and acceptance are in high demand, or am I up on the mountain, where all that matters is what the Master teaches and wants from me? 

So, what is expected of disciples, and why do they stand out? Their lifestyle choices make them stand out, because they don't do the usual, the expected or the normal. The world makes friends with people it is comfortable with, who do not challenge the status quo; the world will hate those who do not conform to its standards. It is the way of the world to curse, hate, persecute and be enemies with people who do not do the things it does. If I as a disciple of Jesus then joins with the world to react the same way, how does my allegiance to God get noticed? 

How easy it is to do all: 'LOVE'; 'BLESS'; 'DO GOOD' and 'PRAY' for people who are equally good to you, or who you have vested interests in, but it is the proof of discipleship for me to go in the opposite direction, and to react differently. It is the same action for all parties but the targets of my actions differ based on who my allegiance is to. For a disciple, I am not concerned about whether the target deserves it or not, but because it is commanded as a fruit of my allegiance. I am not asked to do it because the other person has done the same for me, but simply because I answer to a different master. 

Check out the target of my actions in today's extract: people who hate me, who see me as an enemy, who curse or despitefully use and persecute me. It is hard; yet grace is the reason why it is possible. I remember: God never asks me to do what He has not provided grace for or done Himself. He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but it is also clear that there are consequences to every action and reaction of mine. If I don't obey the One I call Lord and Master, how do I get what He has promised, as well as the eternal life that lies at the end of my total obedience to His commands? Now, it is made clear again; there will be no excuse. His time of favour is here.