Compassion beyond comprehension

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying…

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil...

Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

Sued at law.

We live in a society here in America that has made us a laughingstock of joke, we are the nation that sues. Go to America and find someone to sue to become rich. It's a joke, but a very sad one because it's based on truth. We think of suing people all the time, it's become second nature to us. You slip and fall on someone's stairs- sue them. You get bit by their dog- sue them. You are slandered by someone- sue them. You get hurt while committing a crime- sue those you were robbing. Sue, sue, sue… it's forever before us as a way of getting money for bad things that happen to us. How sad are we? How incredibly sad. 

Jesus says- if we are SUED and the man is awarded our coat, give him our cloak also.

Not only are we to give them what they are after but MORE than what they are offered.

Why?

We like to know why we are being told things, especially when they go against everything we've been taught.  We've been taught that when we do sue someone and are successful at it that we are to take as much of their money as possible- even if it means they have to sell their house, car, all their possessions to pay us.   So already we are taking everything we can, aren't we? How often do people sue others for just a tiny bit?  It does happen, but it's more likely that people are out to get more than they deserve rather than exactly what they deserve. 

If we are being sued we are not only to GIVE them all that they want but more, which is shocking. I can't imagine it happening in reality. Maybe it has happened and does happen, and maybe it will happen but it just seems incredibly strange.

So, why?

Compassion.

The comprehension of this very true reality-

1Ti_6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Act_20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

We are being taught that to give undeservedly to someone is something GOOD, not something to be shunned.

Luk 14:12  Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.

Luk 14:13  But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Luk 14:14  And thou shalt be blessed; for they CANNOT recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

They cannot recompense thee.

Can we ever recompense our SAVIOR?

NO!

We will NEVER deserve the salvation He offers to us! We can NEVER pay Him back for this gift to rival ALL gifts.

He is our example. We are to LIVE as He lives. He gives without ever being able to recoup what He has lost. He gives without ever being able to receive again what He sacrificed.

Our Savior can tell us to GIVE more than what someone asks of us if they are taking us to the law and suing us, because it reveals HIS compassion!

Sure, most people would more than likely call you a fool if you did that, and the person receiving the extra might consider you a fool as well, but it doesn't matter. Those in Jesus' day thought Him a fool too. They wanted Him to get Himself down off the cross. They wanted Him to create an army to defeat the Romans. They thought Him a fool and a liar to do neither of those things. He wasn't about SELF, He was about SELFLESSNESS. He wants us to understand this selflessness and as our example He wants us to strive towards selflessness. Is there any other reason for telling us these truths if we are not to live them?  He is TEACHING us.

COMPASSION.

Compassion that goes far beyond comprehension.

Compassion that has others labeling us fools.

Compassion that Satan despises with every evil thing that he is.

Compassion.

Loving selflessly.

Please LORD, teach us! Open our hearts and minds to LEARN Your lessons, to LEARN to LOVE as YOU want us to love, as YOU LOVE.

All in YOU!