You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. NLT
Today’s post is highly personal. I got a bike from my dad for Christmas a couple of years ago. He got it for me right before I moved to California and it stayed in my parents’ basement because all of my belongings had already been shipped off. I moved back home and then was able to bring the bike with me to Boston! I hadn’t ridden it yet, but was storing it inside the apartment building, where I was told it would be safe.
Yesterday morning, I went down to check my mail and my stomach dropped when I found that my bike was missing. My heart broke.
I want to be angry and curse the person who took it.
As I was preparing for this weekend’s devotional, I wasn’t in a great place mentally. Honestly, I wanted to cry and rail.
But then God brought this passage to mind.
Jesus didn’t talk specifically about someone stealing from you in that passage, but He did talk about giving to those in need and allowing others to borrow when necessary.
I left a note for the one who borrowed my bike without permission and I’m praying they return it. I’m finding it very difficult to forgive in this moment, but I’m working toward it.
Sometimes people need something more than we do. I don’t condone stealing, but I know I would have let someone borrow my bike without question if they had asked. That’s how I need to treat this situation.
God provides for us the things we need. He sometimes gives to us in excess so that we can, in turn, give to others who are in need. How can you open your heart this week to help someone else in need?
Next week I’ll talk more about forgiveness.
UPDATE @ 3:07pm EST: THE BIKE WAS RETURNED!!!!!
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