--UPSIDE DOWN

Matthew 5:38-48
---
You have heard that
it was said, "You
shall love your
neighbor and hate
your enemy." But
I say to you, love
your enemies.
--Matthew 5:43-44 --

IF you were to ask me who I am, I'd tell you that I'm a follower of Jesus. But I have to admit, at times following Him is a real challenge. He tells me to do things like rejoice when I'm persecuted (Matt. 5:11-12); to turn the other cheek (vv.38-39); to give to someone who wants to take from me (vv.40-42); to love my enemies, bless those who curse me, and do good to those who hate me (vv.43-44). This kind of lifestyle seems very upside down to me.

But I've come to realize that He's not upside down--I am. We have all been born fallen and broken. Being twisted by sin, our first instincts are often wrong, which inevitably leaves a big mess.

We're like toast slathered with jelly that has fallen upside down on the kitchen floor. Left to ourselves, we can make a pretty big mess of things. Then Jesus comes along, like a divine spatula, scrapes us off the floor of our sinful ways, and turns us right side up. And as we follow His right-side-up ways, we discover that turning the other cheek keeps us from getting caught in a brawl, that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and that dying to self is life at its best.

After all, His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8), but His ways are always best!
------
What may seem upside down to us is right side up to God.

ODB/JS



--The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalms 34:18)