19 | September | 2013

Lex Talionis

September 19, 2013

Prayer For REVIVAL in America

SCRIPTURE

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t fight back against someone who wants to do harm to you. If they hit you on the right cheek, let them hit the other cheek too.

Matthew 5:38-39, ERV

QUOTE

Few of us manage to go through life without collecting a group of individuals who would not be sorry to learn we died.

~Dallas Willard [Divine Conspiracy]

COMMENTARY

Lex Talionis is the law of limited revenge. If you knock out a tooth of mine, I have the right to knock out one of your teeth, not two or three, only one–an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. You may think it is a crude law but before Moses instituted this law, entire villages would be wiped out as a retaliation for one death. Jesus taught us not to retaliate at all but to turn the other cheek: literally to make ourselves vulnerable. Jesus not only taught this principle, He put it into practice. He made Himself vulnerable to those who hated Him. As a result, Jesus suffered abused and mistreatment. He did not struggle to pray “Father forgive them because they they do not know what they are doing”, He prayed that from His heart. His prayer was as natural to Him as road rage is to me. There are several things I want you to consider….

Jesus chose to make Himself vulnerable for other’s sake. He was always in charge or control.
His vulnerability did not endanger others: it became our salvation.
Does Jesus really expect us to turn the other cheek?
How much abuse does He want us to take?
He did not save us to be “door mats” but He gives us the grace to make ourselves vulnerable for His sake and the sake of others

EXTRA

Day five in the beautiful country of Guatemala. Today Mandy and 90% of the crew will be going one way and one crew will be staying at the compound [or near by] to build the 13th house. This is one that we did not know we were going to build. I want to commend Mandy, she and Jason have done a very good job putting this trip together and I fairly certain that Floyd assisted them. Teddy and Lisa being here has been a blessing. DBC can be proud of the team: they have worked hard and made a difference in the lives of 12 families. I wish I could communicate with the Guatemalans but my Spanish is worse than my singing [according to Willard and Willardete, that is very bad].